Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, e.g. fair meaning “equitable” or “a carnival”.
The Torah seems to have homographs. For example, three letters that mean “despise” can also mean something quite different: “this place.” Two different meanings, right?
Wrong. In the Torah, words that are spelled the same are also closely linked in meaning – and looking at the connections helps us see the subtext of a verse.
Here’s one example: the word bazeh is three letters, understood as “despised” in these two verses:
Esau despised the birthright (Gen. 25:34); and, for a man who sins with intent … that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken his commandment. (Num. 15:31)
It seems straightforward, and it is. But the very same three letters also form a compound word, “in” and “this” which is used to mean “in this place” in the Torah, as follows:
1: There was no harlot in this place [this phrase is repeated in this episode]
2: And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place [Egypt]
3: And he [Moses, before ascending Sinai] said to the elders, Wait in this place for us
4: [Bilaam to the messengers] tarry you also in this place this night, that I may know what the Lord will say further to me.
5: And Balaq brought Bil῾am to the top of Pe῾or, … And Bil῾am said to Balaq, Build me in this place seven altars
6: And it was in the morning that Balak took Bilam and he brought him up to the heights of Baal …And Bilam said to Balak: Build me in this place seven altars.
See something in common with the above? In every single case bazeh, “in this place” refers to a place that is lower. Here are those examples, explained:
1: There was no harlot – any place even suspected of having a harlot, is definitionally lower.
2: my sons, whom God has given me – Egypt, focused on the natural world. is a lower place than Canaan (in the Torah, one goes down to Egypt and up to Canaan).
3: [Moses] said to the elders, Wait – The elders remain in the camp, while Moses ascends Sinai.
4: [Bilaam] “tarry you also” – The men wait in his house, while Bilaam consults with G-d
5 and 6 refer to pagan idols Peor and Baal – certainly a lower level than Bilaam talking with G-d.
The pattern is consistent – and it fits with Esau’s priorities: he puts his appetite as a higher priority than his birthright. So, too, the man who willfully sins puts his desires above those of G-d.
There you have it: The same three letters that form seemingly-different words, nevertheless share the same broad meaning!