Divine Kingship and Exodus

רשע כו' כפר בעיקר.

“The wicked one… denied the Principle.”

The Sefat Emet explains that the wicked son’s question expresses a rejection of the essential foundation of faith.

י"ל בעיקר יציאת מצרים כי עיקר הגאולה הי' להיות התעוררות גבורת השי"ת גם לפרעה וחילו.

One can say that this refers to the fundamental truth of the Exodus, for the essence of the redemption was the revelation of God’s power even to Pharaoh and his armies.

The central purpose of the Exodus was to make God’s strength evident not only to Israel but even to those who opposed Him.

להיות ניכר מלכותו ית' בכל מקום.

So that His blessed kingship would be recognized everywhere.

The redemption aimed at universal recognition of divine sovereignty.

ולכך זה שהוציא עצמו כפר בעיקר.

Therefore, the one who removed himself denied the Principle.

By excluding himself from the collective, he rejects the very goal of the redemption.

וכ"כ גם אתה תתן בידינו כו'.

Thus it says: “So you shall blunt his teeth,” etc.

The response to the wicked son is firm, reflecting the gravity of his distancing himself.

ורק אם רוצה להכניע עצמו.

But only if he is willing to humble himself.

There is a path of return, but it requires self‑submission.

וכשאינו רוצה ג"כ העצה להקהות שיניו.

And when he is not willing, then the advice is to blunt his teeth.

If he refuses humility, a sharp rebuke becomes necessary to break the arrogance that blocks understanding.

וכן אמר מו"ז ז"ל פי' נגד ד' בנים דיברה תורה שיש תיקון לכולם.

And so my revered grandfather said: the Torah spoke of four sons, to teach that there is rectification for all of them.

Every type of child—even the wicked one—has a path to spiritual repair; none are excluded from the possibility of redemption.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that the wicked son’s denial strikes at the core purpose of the Exodus: universal recognition of God’s sovereignty. Yet even he has a potential for repair, provided he is willing to humble himself; if not, a forceful response may break the resistance that prevents growth. Ultimately, the Torah’s four sons represent four paths, each with its own route to restoration.