פָּעַל I, (b. h.) [to split, cmp. פלח,] to work. Y. Sabb. II, end, 8ᵈ; Tanḥ. Emor 7; Lev. R. s. 27 (ref. to Num. XXIII, 23) כל מי שפ׳ עם לא וכ׳ let whosoever worked with God come and take his reward. Lev. R. s. 4 כל מה שיִפְעַל אדם עם נפשו וכ׳ however much man may do for his soul, he has not done his full duty. Gen. R. s. 15 (ref. to Ps. LXXIV, 12) ראו פועלא טבא שהתקין … עמדתי לִפְעוֹל see the good employer, for the Lord has prepared my wages (the garden of Eden), before yet I arose to work; Yalk. ib. 20. Midr. Till. to Ps. XCII בששת … פָּעַלְתִּי את העולם ובשבת נחתי in the six working days I worked and made the world, and on the Sabbath I rested; a. fr.—Esp. to deal. Lam. R. to III, 33 [read:] בשני מקומות פָּעֲלוּ ישראל עם הקב"ה באחד פעלו בפיהם ולא בלבם ובאחד פעלו בלבם ולא בפיהם in two places Israelites dealt with God, in one they dealt with their mouth (professed faith), but not with their heart, and in the other, they dealt with their heart (were loyal at heart), but not with their mouth; בסיני פעלו בפיהם וכ׳ at Sinai they dealt with their mouth but not with their heart (ref. to Ps. LXXVIII, 36); בבבל פעלו בלבם וכ׳ in Babylonia they dealt with their heart, but not with their mouth (ref. to Lam. l. c.); Cant. R. to VII, 8.