There is a well know pasuk in Mishlei often quoted in yeshivas, after the rebbe has gone through a long sugya (topic in Gemara or another Torah topic) and was successfully able to answer all the questions clearly and thoroughly. The pasuk in Mishlei (24:26) states, loosely translated:
| Lips should kiss him who gives a right answer. | כושְׂפָתַ֥יִם יִשָּׁ֑ק מֵ֜שִׁ֗יב דְּבָרִ֥ים נְכֹחִֽים: | |
In fact, Rashi in Gitten 9a translates the the pasuk in this fashion. However, Tosfos there has a different interpretation: “When a person says proper words those that are around him will clinch their lips tightly closed, for they are quiet and have nothing to respond.” (Click here for Hebrew text.)
Speaking on the same wave length as Tosfos, Rabbeinu Bachye in the introduction to this week’s Torah portion of Emor when defining this pasuk on a simple level says: “King Shlomo is teaching here about the quality of a sage that his words are sweet to people and everyone desires to listen to him because he speaks proper speech and answers anyone who asks him a question. The intent of the pasuk is not that he is deserving a kiss on the lips because what kind of lesson can come out of that? Furthermore, if that was the intent the pasuk should have written “שפתים יושק” (that in the passive grammatical form his lips should be kissed). But rather the pasuk is saying that the lips of the listeners, who pay attention to the proper words, will close up tightly. The point being, that the ears of people will follow his words, and their hearts will be correct and complete with him, to listen in a fashion as if he is kissing the lips of those that are listening because he’s desirable to his brethren and his words are heard and accepted by them.” (Click here for Hebrew text.)
We see three possible interpretations of this pasuk. Rashi asserts that people are so excited to hear words of truth coming out of a wise man’s mouth that they proactively want to kiss him! Tosfos holds that when they hear the words of truth they are speechless, while Rabbeinu Bachye holds that people have a feeling of complete bliss and acceptance when they hear words of truth from a wise man.
Why does Rabbeinu Bachye openly reject Rashi’s interpretation (albeit without quoting Rashi)? According to Rashi, the pasuk is teaching us that a person will get so excited when he hears words of truth that make sense, are clear, and inspiring that he’d want to kiss the person who said it. Why does Rabbeinu Bachye say that there is no lesson from this? Why is it any different than what he said?
It must be that Rabbeinu Bachye holds that it’s possible to get excited about something you hear, and react in a very positive way, but not internalize it. Inspiration is fleeting; not taking it to heart must not be what the pasuk is talking about. Rather, when a person internalized the words that he hears, and it made a deep impact on him, and he feels a feeling of inner bliss, then they make a true impact on the person. Which is a sensible lesson to learn from this pasuk. Along the same lines, Tosfos also holds that the lesson heard must be internalized, and one will then have a feeling of speechlessness, upon hearing something so impactful. Either way, both Rabbeinu Bachye and Tosfos seem to hold that an outer reactions do not mean there is a true understanding and acceptance of what was heard. It’s the inner feeling which is transformative; this is the litmus test of whether something one hears is really impactful or not.
This is a good question on Rashi’s understanding of the pasuk, but Rashi must hold that a person will internalize what he hears, and will then not just have an inner feeling of bliss or be speechless, but will want to react and show his excitement! There are different ways and natures of how one reacts to something positive he or she hears, but whatever type of personality you are, you should be sure it has a transformational effect on you and you don’t fool yourself otherwise.
Happy Lag B’omer & Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Dovid Shmuel Milder