The Subversive Scribe

In this third episode of The Subversive Scribe podcast, show host Jesse “Hesh” Heshel discusses an ancient and long established Jewish method of interpretation called PRDS, which is meant to sound like “paradise” phonetically. PRDS is the Jewish method of interpreting scripture developed over a long period of time. The rabbi’s did well at guarding this and keeping this but there are other Judaic sects like the Karaites who also work on exegesis of the Tanakh.

We discuss what each one of the letters – P, R, D, S – stands for in the hermeneutical system and especially the importance of “P” which is called peshatt in Hebrew. Peshatt translates as “Straight” as in the plain-sense, straight forward base meaning of the text. This is what the text means and is the primary reading. This is important for later episodes as we hone on this first and primary layer of interpreting sacred text.  

Peshatt – is the meaning of the text; everything else is frosting. We also discuss other systems of interpreting including the Medieval Quidriga in Christianity. Until next time, stay subversive.

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