parshaמפרשי הפרשה

משך חכמה — בחרבי ובקשתי

Why does Onkelos translate "בחרבי ובקשתי" as "בצלותי ובבעותי" (tefillah and bakashah) — and why are these two compared specifically to a sword and a bow?

חרב הוא בעצמו מזיק, שברזל שיש לו חדוד ממית בכל שהוא, ואין צריך אומד. אבל הקשת בעצמו אינו מזיק, רק כח המורה... לזה קרא לתפילה בשם 'חרבי', שהיא אף בלא כונה מרובה, ובעותי בשם 'קשתי' שהיא כמו קשת, שהיא עד 'שמשים נפשו בכפו'.

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משך חכמה

משך חכמה, ויחי י״ב

Meshekh Chokhmah, Vayekhi:12

Q — Why does Onkelos translate "בחרבי ובקשתי" as "בצלותי ובבעותי" (tefillah and bakashah) — and why are these two compared specifically to a sword and a bow?

A — Tefillah = fixed liturgical service, which requires only minimal kavanah (a sword cuts even with the slightest sharp point and the lightest pressure); bakashah = personal supplication added beyond the fixed nusach, which requires intense kavanah (a bow's effectiveness depends entirely on the strength of the archer — "עד שמשים נפשו בכפו").

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