Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Rabbinic Commentary: In Judaism, a midrash is an ancient, explanatory commentary on a specific portion of the Hebrew scriptures (the Tanakh). It is not a simple translation or paraphrase, but rather an exploration that uses established Jewish hermeneutical methods to derive deeper meaning, clarify ambiguities, fill narrative gaps, or draw out ethical and legal principles from the biblical text.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The rabbi taught from a midrash that explored the deeper reasons behind Abraham's journey.
  • To understand this verse fully, one must often consult the midrash.
  • This collection contains a midrash on the Book of Genesis.

Advanced Usage

• "Midrashic" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of midrash.
  • The story has a midrashic quality, expanding on the biblical narrative with imaginative detail.
• "Midrash aggadah" or "aggadic midrash": Refers to midrash that focuses on non-legal, narrative, ethical, or homiletic exposition of the scriptures.
• "Midrash halakha" or "halakhic midrash": Refers to midrash that focuses on deriving or explicating Jewish law (halakha) from the biblical text.

Variants and Related Words

• Midrashim (noun, plural): The plural form of midrash.
  • Several midrashim offer different interpretations of the same event.
• Midrashic (adjective): As described above.

Synonyms

• Exegesis: Critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially religious scripture. (Midrash is a specific form of Jewish exegesis.)
• Commentary: A set of explanatory notes on a text.

Notes on Meaning

• The term midrash can refer to a single interpretive comment, a collected work of such comments, or the entire body of this Rabbinic literature as a genre.
• It is fundamentally attached to the biblical text, meaning its purpose is to engage with and elucidate the scripture, rather than exist as an independent work.

Noun

1. (Judaism) an ancient commentary on part of the Hebrew scriptures that is based on Jewish methods of interpretation and attached to the biblical text