S. D. Luzzatto on יפשוטו של מקרא

The definition of the Hebrew term יפשוטו של מקרא has frequently been discussed by Bible commentators and scholars. This paper considers S. D. Luzzatto's approach to biblical exegesis on the basis of peshat, which he believed to be the sole correct interpretation of the Bible. In his view, peshat implies first examining the linguistic meaning of the text according to the rules of grammar; subsequently, on the basis of this linguistic substrate, one should examine the content of the text within its literary and historical contexts. Three different features of Luzzatto's exegesis are considered in the paper and examples of each are given: context-based interpretation; secondary meanings (ambiguity); the problem of "Torah and Science" in the context of peshat-based interpretation.