Q: Was reading Genesis 12:17 and noted that the Hebrew mentioned at the word of Abram’s wife Sarai דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם׃. Daver means word? English translation says Because of…. Is there a difference because it is bible hebrew? Sarai’s word?

A: In this verse, the term על-דבר means “about the essence of Sarai”. So what is Sarai’s essence?

According to Philo of Alexandria, Sarai was far more advanced than Abraham. For instance, when Abraham was concerned with having children, Sarai was never occupied with the topic. She did not ask for a child or for motherhood, she was content and complete as she was.

On the other hand, Abraham found his earthly fulfillment with Hagar, representing the worldly, horizontal wisdoms. He was content with the horizontal, earthly life.

Only at the age of 99, after he underwent circumcision as part of the covenant of the word, was Abraham considered worthy of Sarai. Sarai represents the word, the diamond, the virtue that appears in time but does not originate from time. It is only at this point, when he embraced the covenant (ברית מילה) and overcame his selfish desires, that he was able to approach her innocently. And then, Isaac was born.

This suggests that the one who truly hears the word, also timeless, can laugh, can be happy, and can experience joy without taking themselves too seriously. The soul, after all, is merely a guest here, and there is nothing to “achieve,” because the soul is, in essence, nothing.

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