Asking Questions
To begin interpreting the Bible, we need to ask questions. Based
on the exercise in close reading, you saw that the reader needs
to pay attention to details, repetitions, meaning and connections.
I have developed a chart of seven categories of problems, each
type having two types. I introduce the first type below, and the
second type on the next page. These questions are called questions of Parshanut (Interpretation or Commentary).
Imagine that a word or a verse is a simple arrow: 
(This is an appropriate symbol, since we talked about how Torah
tells us the 'way to go.') Unfortunately, as we have seen in the
last two pages, the arrow is not always so straight and unambiguous.
I like to use these graphic symbols, each made of arrows, to illustrate
each type of problem.
You may print this page out, or bookmark it for future reference.
Click on any type to see an example.
Go to the example page to test yourself.
| Category |
Type |
Image |
Description |
| DETAILS |
Missing Information |
 |
Something is missing: a word, a sentence or important details.
This is very common. |
| FREQUENCY |
Duplication |
 |
The Torah tells us the same thing twice, or tells us something
we already know. |
| MEANING |
Literal |
 |
A word, or verse that we don't understand. Examples are words
that appear only once in the Torah (called 'hapax legomenon!')
or verses with difficult grammar that don't make sense. |
| A or B |
Contradiction |
 |
The Torah says one thing here, another thing there. |
| CONNECTIONS |
Echo |
 |
The Torah re-uses a word or phrase from one story in another,
creating a kind of 'hypertext' link / association) between the
stories. |
| SEQUENCE |
Symmetry |
 |
The Torah writes words or verses in a symmetrical pattern (like
A,B,C and C,B,A). |
| PROBLEMS |
Compare & Contrast |
 |
The Torah or a character repeats what happened or what was said
with a small but important difference: omission, addition, or
changes). (Compare to Duplication, above) |
Classroom Forum
Asking Questions 