Biblical Hermeneutics

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN
III
The search for hidden meanings in Scripture did not flourish in rabbinic Judaism till after 70
CE, (that is only after the destruction of the second temple) after which this endeavour
produced wonderfully intricate interpretations.
John 8:31-32: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my
word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free.
The process is illuminated by the medieval acronym pardes. "PaRDeS " ( דֵּס ‏(פָּרְ‏ is
etymologically related to the English word "paradise" and stands for four types of
hermeneutical meanings:
These are:
• Peshat ‏(פְּשָׁט)‏ — "plain" ("simple") or the direct meaning.
• Remez מֶז)‏ ‏(רֶ‏ — "hints" or the deep (allegoric: hidden or symbolic) meaning beyond just
the literal sense.
• Derash שׁ)‏ ‏(דְּרַ‏ — from Hebrew darash: "inquire" ("seek") — the comparative
(midrashic) meaning, as given through similar occurrences.
• Sod ‏(סוֹד)‏ (pronounced with a long O as in 'bone') — "secret" ("mystery") or the
esoteric/mystical meaning, as given through inspiration or revelation.
Exoteric and Esoteric in Sod
• Exoteric means that Scripture is read in the context of the Physical World, Human
orientation and Human notions. The first three exegetical methods: Peshat-Simple, Remez-
Hinted, and Drush-Homiletic belong to the exoteric "Nigleh-Revealed" part of Torah embodied
in mainstream Rabbinic literature, such as the Talmud, Midrash and exoteric-type Jewish
commentaries on the Bible.
35