ויוציאו דבת הארץ. דבר שלא היה ואין כן ויבא יוסף כי ויבא הפך ויוציאו: AND THEY SPREAD AN EVIL REPORT OF THE LAND. Va-yotzi’u dibbat ha-aretz (and they spread an evil report) means: and they spread a lie. This is not the meaning of va-yave yosef et dibbatam ra (and Joseph brought evil report of them) (Gen. 37:2), for va-yave (brought) is the reverse of va-yotzi (and they spread).42For there the report was true. In other words, when dibbatam follows va- yave, it refers to the truth. When it follows va-yotzi, it refers to a lie.
דבה מפעלי הכפל מגזרת דובב שפתי ישנים ובמקומו פירשתיו: EVIL REPORT. The word dibbah (evil report) comes from a double root.43Its root is dalet, bet, bet, even though it is spelled dalet, bet, heh, which, prima facie, appears to be its root. It comes from the same root as the word dovev (moving gently) in Moving gently the lips of those that are asleep (Cant. 7:10). I have explained it in its place.44Compare, I.E. on Cant. 7:10, “Dovev means to speak. It is possible the word dibbah is similar.” In other words, both dovev and dibbah refer to speech.
אכלת יושביה. שהאויר שלה רע: EATETH UP THE INHABITANTS THEREOF. For its air is bad.
אנשי מדות. כל איש הוא איש מדה רק טעמו מדות גדולות יותר מהכל וכן אנשי לבב ורבים כמו הם: MEN OF GREAT STATURE.45Hebrew, anshe middot (literally, men of measurements). Hence I.E.’s comments. Every man is a man of measurements. Anshe middot means men of great measurement, men whose measurements are greater than everyone else’s. The same applies to the phrase anshe levav (men of heart)46Translated literally. (Job. 34:34).47Its meaning is, men of great hearts, i.e., men of great intelligence. There are many other instances similar to the above.