Texts in Conversation
Psalm 119 describes gaining understanding through the Torah and teachers. Rabbinic tradition in Pirkei Avot draws on this to define the wise person as one who learns from every person.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Psalms 119:99
Hebrew Bible
97 מ (Mem) O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules. 100 I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts. 101 I stay away from every evil path, so that I might keep your instructions.
Pirkei Avot 4:1
Mishnah
Rabbinic
1 Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30). 2 Ben Azzai said: Be quick in performing a minor commandment as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
Date: 190-230 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... As this first saying shows, Ben Zoma’s life spent as a student of others made him attuned to the deep qualities necessary to make one wise, mighty, wealthy, and honorable. Regarding wisdom, the truly wise one learns from all, illustrating an egalitarian aspect of the community of sages in the early rabbinic movement. Later commentators interpreted Ben Zoma to mean that one is truly wise who learns from all, even those who know less than him. To do this is to let go of the importance of the prestige and pride found in one’s own learning, creating a wider circle of mutuality. ..."
Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Daniel
The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot
(p. 196) Peeters, 2018
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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