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Monica, see WAF's comment to my answer and consider clarifying precisely what you mean by unnecessary. –  Double AA Aug 28 '12 at 22:38
@Menachem, interesting, thanks. Sounds like an answer. –  Monica Cellio Aug 29 '12 at 1:16

5 Answers 5


דברה תורה כלשון בני אדם‏
The Torah spoke using the language of man



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The Ramban writes in his hassagos to shoresh sheni of the Rambam in sefer Hamitzvos that there is not even one extra letter in the Torah:

אבל הכתוב יכלול הכל כי אין הפשט כדברי חסרי דעת הלשון ולא כדעת הצדוקים. כי ספר תורת ה' תמימה אין בה אות יתר וחסר כולם בחכמה נכתבו

Rather, the verses contain all [of the ideas contained in the d'rshos of Chazal] for the explanation of the text is not [meager] in accordance with the words of those lacking intelligence, nor like the opinion of the Sadducees. For the Torah scroll of God is perfect, it has neither a superfluous nor a missing letter, they were all written with wisdom. (Trans. my own).

Also noteworthy is the comment of Rabbenu Avrahan ben HaRambam in his commentary to Exodus (20:20) where he seems to state this as well:

אין כפל במקרא

There is no repetition/superfluity in the Torah.

see below regarding his intent here

Rabbenu Avraham is approving of R. Saadya Gaon's distinction between לא תעשון אתי אלהי כסף and the end of the verse ואלהי זהב לא תעשו לכם. Regarding which he says אין כפל במקרא.

Rabbi Ezra Labaton z"l (in his dissertation here p. 154) understands these words to be Rabbenu Avraham's conclusion (that is an independent clause about the nature of Torah.) Accordingly, this would be similar to the Ramban.

However, it is not clear to me that Rabbi Labaton's reading is correct, for the whole line of Rabbenu Avraham reads:

ומאמרו אחרי כן 'לא תעשו לכם' אזהרה על קבלת הצורות והתמונות ולפי זה אין כפל במקרא

In context it seems likely that he is merely saying that Rav Sadya Gaon's explanation has the benefit of avoiding superfluity, which is avoided according to his explanation, not that scripture is never superfluous.

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+1 - efshar quote? –  yEz Jun 12 at 3:09
@yEz give me a minute... –  mevaqesh Jun 12 at 3:26
This is obviously difficult with the Gemara about m'leos and chaseros of course. Interestingly, I recall the same implication in his student the Rashba; that every letter is accurate. Also noteworthy, is that the Rambam (whom the Ramban is furiously disputing) himself writes quite similarly in Peirush Hamishnayos to chelek in his ikkarim. Of course his intent there has been discussed at length elsewhere on this website. –  mevaqesh Jun 12 at 3:56
Thanks for quote. The Ramban could always mean that the Torah which we were given at Sinai was perfect with no extra or lacking, and it's our loss if we are missing a piece of that, although it will have no bearing on the halachic veracity of the Torah. Have a good Shabbos! –  yEz Jun 12 at 18:22




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Unfortunately as noted elsewhere on the cite the Gemara already states that we dont know which words in the Torah are malei and chasser respectively. This is quite problematic for said Ramchal (IMHO). –  mevaqesh Mar 20 at 0:36

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