THE HOUSE OF YAH, COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!

[Nitza]

By Rabbi Samuel Thompson
The Four Levels of Torah Interpretation and the
Four Levels of Understanding Scripture
(From Most Basic To Deepest)

Building People into the image of Yahweh by His own testimonies, Baruch
Ha Shem Yahweh!

The Hebrew word PARDES is spelled with vowels PRDS and refers to a garden of delight or a park Enclosed by a wall.

It can be found in the Brit Chadasha in Luke 23:43; 2 Cor.12: 4; Revelation 2:7.
It is an acronym (notarikon) for the following words:

1. Pashat-(Simple)
2. Remez-(Hint’s or illusions)
3. Drash- Drash (Parables, Riddles and Allegories)
4. Sod-(Esoteric, Mysterious Level)

Study of the Torah is like an onion; the more layers you peel off –the deeper you go to the heart or soul of it.

Pashat: It is the literal meaning of the text being studied.
It is the plain simple meaning of the text in the Grammatical and historical context. An important rule to follow is "NO METHOD OF INTERPRETATION CAN NEGATE THE PASHAT LEVEL MEANING OF THE TEXT!

This is the key to understanding Scripture. This results in an exegesis of the text not an esogesis (reading into the text) from prejudices. One is Objective and the other is subjective reading.

Remez: This is the implied meaning of the text. The text is hinting at a deeper truth than what is revealed.

Drash: This is the allegorical, typological, homiletical meaning of the text being studied. Great creativity can be used in this level.

You can search the Scriptures, other historical works in order to develop the application to the text. This process DOES involve esogesis of the text.

Sod: This is the hidden or esoteric (Mysterious) meaning of the text. This can be found easily in Yochannan's (John's) writings as well and again mystery level will never change the simple pashat interpretation of any scripture!

Any student of Torah must learn to use all four methods in order to properly interpret the Torah.
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Chazak, chazak, vanit chazek, "be strong, be strong, and be strengthened".