משלי, פרק ל׳, פסוק ט״ו

A profound exploration of insatiable greed and endless consumption relies on a familiar biblical numerical pattern of three and four to capture a universal truth about a hunger that can never be satisfied [שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators identifies the subject of this imagery as a literal leech, a parasitic worm found in rivers that continuously drains the blood of animals until its body is completely full [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. The offspring mentioned alongside it are its creations, creatures that inherit the ravenous, demanding nature of their mother [אבן עזרא, עמנואל הרומי]. These descendants constantly cry out, demanding to be given more [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. They never reach a point of satisfaction where they feel they have accumulated enough wealth to stop [רש״י, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא].

Beyond the zoological explanation, some suggest the subject is not an animal at all, but rather the name of a specific wise man or philosopher who originally authored this proverb [עמנואל הרומי, מלבי״ם]. Others trace the root of this concept to the Arabic language, where it implies a state of dependence and clinging [רש״י, אמרי דעת].

Moving beyond the simple meaning, two major schools of thought interpret this imagery allegorically. The first approach views the endless hunger as a representation of the afterlife and the system of reward and punishment. The leech symbolizes the grave, the underworld, or the consuming power of Hell. Its two descendants represent Heaven and Hell, both constantly demanding to be given more. Heaven calls out for the righteous, while Hell claims the wicked. Both realms are vast and never reach full capacity [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. In this context, the numbers three and four allude to the endless systems of divine punishment and suffering awaiting those who stray from the proper path [אלשיך, מצודת דוד].

The second allegorical school takes a more philosophical and scientific direction, applying the metaphor to the laws of nature and physical matter. The leech represents primeval matter—the most basic, unformed state of existence—which constantly thirsts to take on new shapes. The two demanding descendants symbolize the forces of creation and destruction embedded in the world, often represented by the womb and the grave. The numbers three and four point to the four foundational elements of creation: earth, water, wind, and fire. These elements constantly consume, merge, and transform into one another in an infinite cycle. Ultimately, this natural state of constant lack and dissatisfaction also serves as a metaphor for false philosophies, which relentlessly corrupt the minds of those who lack true knowledge [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם, אמרי דעת].