Avodah Zarah 52a

עבודה זרה נ״ב ע״א

Learn Avodah Zarah 52a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Avodah Zarah 52a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When an idol becomes forbidden according to רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא, how each uses the פסוקים, and questions about the impurity of idol vessels and offerings.

Overview

The גמרא finishes רבי ישמעאל's reading of דברים 12:2. A נכרי's idol is forbidden only once it is worshipped, learned by a היקש to כלים. A Jew's idol is forbidden immediately. רבי ישמעאל's source for the Jew's idol is tested step by step: first סברא, then the עגל, then ארור. It is finally proven from 'תועבת ה׳'. רבי עקיבא holds the reverse: a נכרי's idol is forbidden once carved (פסילי אלהיהם), and a Jew's idol only once worshipped (ושם בסתר). The גמרא then shows how each תנא uses the other's פסוקים for other teachings: ביטול by a נכרי, גניזה of a Jew's idol, and ריש לקיש's lesson about appointing an unfit judge. Next, רב המנונא asks about a welded vessel used for an idol. This becomes a double question about whether old rabbinic impurity, and especially idol impurity, returns to a remade vessel, and it ends in תיקו. Finally, רבי יוחנן asks רבי ינאי whether ביטול purifies food offered to an idol. The גמרא explains why he did not ask about vessels or the idol itself, and that explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (46)

1. StatementApplying the verse to vessels, and the rule about idols
2. ChallengeBut the verse was applied to vessels, not to idols
3. ResolutionThe verse compares their gods to the vessels
4. ResolutionWhy רבי עקיבא does not make this comparison
5. QuestionWhere does רבי ישמעאל learn that a Jew's idol is forbidden immediately?
6. ResponseIt comes from logic
7. ChallengeMaybe a Jew's idol is not forbidden at all
8. ResolutionAn idol that must be buried must also be forbidden
9. ChallengeMaybe a Jew's idol is like a non-Jew's
10. ResolutionProof from the golden calf: a sin from the moment it was made
11. ChallengeMaybe the verse only makes the person guilty
12. ResolutionThe curse starts from the time of making
13. ChallengeMaybe the curse is only on the person
14. ResolutionThe idol itself is called an abomination
15. QuestionHow does רבי עקיבא read this verse
16. ResponseAbomination means something that leads to abomination
17. Questionרבי עקיבא's source for a נכרי's idol
18. Responseעולא: once carved it becomes a god
19. Responseרבי ישמעאל uses the verse for רב יוסף's teaching
20. Responseרבי עקיבא learns it from שמואל, who points out a contradiction
21. Resolutionשמואל's solution: carved as a god versus canceled as a god
22. Questionרבי עקיבא's source that a Jew's idol is forbidden only once worshipped
23. Responseרב יהודה: 'and sets it up in secret'
24. Responseרבי ישמעאל uses the verse for רבי יצחק's teaching
25. Responseרבי עקיבא learns גניזה from the אשרה next to the altar
26. Responseרבי ישמעאל uses the אשרה פסוק for ריש לקיש's lesson about judges
27. StatementAn unfit judge where there are scholars is like an אשרה next to the altar
28. Questionרב המנונא asks about welding a vessel for an idol
29. QuestionWhose idol is this about? It cannot be a נכרי's
30. ResponseThe question is about a Jew's idol
31. QuestionWhose opinion is רב המנונא following?
32. RejectionIt cannot follow רבי עקיבא
33. ResponseIt follows רבי ישמעאל
34. QuestionLaying out the two sides of the question
35. ChallengeThen why ask about welding?
36. ResolutionThe question is about an old status coming back
37. ProofThe משנה about old impurity returning
38. QuestionThe real question: does rabbinic impurity come back too?
39. ChallengeWhy ask about idols? Ask about any rabbinic impurity
40. ResolutionTwo questions, one built on the other
41. ConclusionThe questions stay unresolved
42. QuestionCan ביטול purify food offered to an idol?
43. ChallengeWhy not ask about vessels?
44. ResolutionVessels can go in a מקוה; food cannot
45. ChallengeWhy not ask about the idol itself?
46. ResolutionHe had no doubt about the idol itself