Peshat

Peshat (also P'shat, פשט‎) is one of the two classic methods of Jewish biblical exegesis, the other being Derash. While Peshat is commonly defined as referring to the surface or literal (direct) meaning of a text,^[1] or "the plain literal meaning of the verse, the meaning which its author intended to convey",^[2] numerous scholars and rabbis have debated this for centuries, giving Peshat many uses and definitions.^[3]

Peshat is most often defined as "straight," in reference to its tendency to describe the meaning of the text apparent at face value, taking into account idiomatic expressions, and focusing mostly on literal interpretation.^[4] It is often considered the most straightforward method for reading and understanding of biblical text. In this way, Peshat differentiates itself from the other methods present in Pardes (Remez, Drash and Sod), which look at what may be hidden in the text. Peshat interpretations also note the importance of context, both historical and literary.^[3] This is in contrast to Drash, which will often take the text of a verse out of its context, for uses beyond the context such as ritual or moral purposes.^[3]

However, this does not mean that Peshat and Drash are fully opposing methods. In fact, one may often be used in helping to explain the other, in finding and defining nuances in text that might be otherwise inexplicable without application of both methods.^[1][3]