Lost Wisdom of the Sages Part II: An Equivalent Expression (G’zerah Shavah)

One of the wonderful things about the Scriptures which is often hidden from the view many Bible students its wonderful interconnectedness. In our busy day-to-day lives we often neglect our spiritual responsibility to pray and to study the scriptures. Due to the constraints on our time, we often study small passages alone or in groups. This, as much as anything else causes us to think of scripture in discrete chunks: a verse here, a short easy to remember passage there, and so on. But the Scriptures where not meant to be read that way!

There is, among the ancient sages, a rule called “G’zerah Shavah” meaning “a comparison of equals,” or “an equivalent expression.” This ancient rule is best defined follows: Where a similar phrase, word, or root is applied in two different passages, the  connotations of its use remains the same.

An example that gets used a lot to illustrate this, as it is such a good example of this rule in play, is a comparison of the following passages:

The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren, and don’t bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son.  Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing: for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” —Judges 13:3–5 (WEB:ME)

This passage, of course refers to the birth of Samson, the ancient Judge of Israel famous for his mighty works… and his bad luck with women. We see that he is a Nazirite and, as such, “no razor shall come on his head”.

But this is not the only place in scripture we read this phrase.

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. She vowed a vow, and said, “The LORD of Hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.” —I Samuel 1:9–11 (WEB:ME)

Here, we see the same expression “no razor shall come on his head.” This tells us that Samuel, like Samson was a Nazirite from birth.

The Hillel’s Second Rule is both a wonderful tool for understanding the Scriptures, and a wonderful reminder of the interconnected nature of the message God has given us. It is good for all of us to ask ourselves “where have I heard this before?” as we read the scriptures. The more of the scriptures with which we become familiar, the more insight this rule can give us.

Tags: hermeneutics, sages, seven rules of hillel