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Hebrew Text
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־אַבְרָהָם שָׂרַי אִשְׁתְּךָ לֹא־תִקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמָהּ שָׂרָי כִּי שָׂרָה שְׁמָהּ׃
English Translation
And God said to Avraham, As for Saray thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Saray, but Sara shall her name be.
Transliteration
Vayomer Elohim el-Avraham Saray ishtecha lo-tikra et-shmah Saray ki Sarah shmah.
Hebrew Leining Text
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ לֹא־תִקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמָ֖הּ שָׂרָ֑י כִּ֥י שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמָֽהּ׃
Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Berakhot 13a
The verse is discussed in the context of the significance of name changes, particularly the change from Sarai to Sarah, and its implications for understanding divine promises and identity.
📖 Sanhedrin 107a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the merits of Abraham and Sarah, and how their names were changed to signify their new roles in the divine plan.
The Change from Saray to Sara
The verse (Bereishit 17:15) describes Hashem commanding Avraham to change his wife's name from Saray to Sara. According to Rashi, the name Saray denotes "my princess," implying dominion over her husband alone, whereas Sara signifies "princess" universally—indicating she would become a princess over all people. This change reflects her elevated spiritual status and future role as the matriarch of Klal Yisrael.
Spiritual Transformation and Covenant
The Ramban explains that this name change parallels Avraham's own transformation from Avram to Avraham, signifying their joint inclusion in the covenant. Just as Avraham was granted a broader destiny (father of multitudes), Sara was elevated to become the mother of nations. The Talmud (Berachot 13a) teaches that a name change signifies a new divine decree, indicating Sara’s transition from barrenness to fertility.
Midrashic Insights
Halachic Implications
The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 129:20) discusses the significance of name changes in Jewish law, emphasizing that once a person’s name is altered by divine command (as with Sara), their spiritual identity is fundamentally transformed. This underscores the gravity of names in Jewish thought, as they reflect one’s essence and divine mission.