Berachos 57a

ברכות נ״ז ע״א

Berakhot 57a

Learn Berachos 57a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 57a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The meanings of dream signs

Overview

This amud is a long list of things a person might see or do in a dream, and what each one means. It opens by finishing an earlier question about an elephant: a saddled one and an unsaddled one mean different things. It then moves through names, religious acts like קריאת שמע and תפילין, plants and fruits, animals, everyday actions, and places, often supporting each meaning with a פסוק or a play on words. Many signs come with a condition, such as a written הספד or a prayer that is not finished. Sometimes the same image means different things depending on its form, its number, or who the dreamer is. Personal stories appear too, from רבי זירא, רב אשי, רב פפא, and רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע. The גמרא resolves a conflict about bloodletting dreams and rejects רב ששת's favorable reading of killing a snake. The amud ends with drinks: all are good signs except wine, which can go either way, though for a תלמיד חכם it is always good.

Opening lines

The steps (60)

1. ResolutionThe elephant’s condition makes the difference
2. StatementNames in a dream signal miracles
3. StatementA written eulogy is a favorable dream sign
4. StatementAnswering a sacred phrase in a dream
5. StatementReciting שמע and the generation’s limitation
6. ProofHead תפילין support a sign of greatness
7. StatementA prayer dream is favorable if prayer is unfinished
8. StatementA troubling dream image points to understanding
9. StatementBetrothal language connects a dream to תורה
10. StatementThe verse calls wisdom a sister
11. StatementThe final dream sign has two conditions
12. StatementWheat points to peace
13. StatementBarley points to removed sins
14. Statementרבי זירא waited for a barley dream
15. StatementA laden vine points to a healthy pregnancy
16. StatementA choice vine points toward משיח
17. StatementA fig points to retained תורה
18. StatementPomegranate size points to business growth
19. StatementSplit pomegranates for a תלמיד חכם
20. StatementSplit pomegranates for an עם הארץ
21. QuestionWhat does the verse's word suggest?
22. ResponseEven those called empty are full of מצוות
23. StatementSmall olives point to lasting business growth
24. StatementOlive fruit and olive trees mean different things
25. StatementAnother interpretation of an olive tree
26. StatementOlive oil points to the light of תורה
27. StatementDates point to sins coming to an end
28. StatementOne goat points to one blessed year; several goats point to several
29. StatementMyrtle points to successful property or an inheritance
30. StatementThe myrtle sign requires seeing it on its stem
31. StatementA citron points to being honored before one’s Creator
32. StatementA palm branch points to a heart devoted to Heaven
33. StatementA goose points to wisdom
34. StatementA further goose dream points to leading a yeshiva
35. Statementרב אשי reports that the goose dream came true for him
36. StatementRoosters and a hen point to different good outcomes
37. StatementEggs point to a pending request; broken eggs to its fulfillment
38. StatementThe broken-object sign extends beyond eggs
39. StatementEntering a city points to fulfilled wishes
40. StatementShaving the head is a good sign, and shaving the beard extends it to the family
41. StatementThe size and position of a boat
42. StatementA good sign with a condition
43. StatementGoing up and down from a roof
44. RejectionThe rise remains in place
45. StatementTorn clothing and a torn decree
46. StatementThe place changes the sign of nakedness
47. StatementBeing held can signal protection
48. StatementA marsh and a forest point to different leaders
49. StatementTwo dreams point to different leadership roles
50. StatementAnother account distinguishes the dreams by a hanging drum
51. StatementA dream includes the marsh and a sounding drum
52. StatementBloodletting in a dream signals forgiveness
53. ChallengeAnother teaching seems to give the opposite sign
54. ResolutionThe sins are arranged for forgiveness
55. StatementA snake dream is read through livelihood
56. RejectionKilling the snake receives a favorable reading
57. RejectionThe favorable reading is traced to a personal dream
58. StatementAll drinks are good in a dream, except wine, which can go either way
59. ProofTwo verses show that wine can be good or bad
60. StatementFor a Torah scholar, a wine dream is always good