Gemara Clarity

Chullin 66b

חולין ס״ו ע״ב

Learn Chullin 66b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 66b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why the תורה lists fins as well as scales, and which finless water creatures are permitted

Overview

This amud first finishes a list of permitted fish. It then quotes a משנה: every fish with קשקשת (scales) also has סנפיר (fins), but not the other way around. The גמרא asks why the תורה mentions fins at all if scales are enough. A פסוק about scale armor already defines קשקשת, so רבי אבהו answers that the extra word is there to make the תורה great and glorious. A ברייתא then explains why the תורה says both 'eat' and 'do not eat': a person who eats a non-kosher fish breaks both an עשה and a לא תעשה. The ברייתא also learns that tiny finless water creatures are permitted. They are allowed in vessels, and the words 'of all that are in the waters' allow them even in pits, ditches and caves. The גמרא then works through the פסוק using the rules of כלל ופרט and כלל ופרט וכלל. The amud ends with רבינא starting a rule from ארץ ישראל about two general statements next to each other, and that rule finishes on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֲקוּנָס וַאֲפוּנָס

The akunas and the afunas,

כְּסֶפַּתְיָאס וְאֶכְּסְפַּטְיָאס וַאֲטוּנָס

the kesaftiyas, the akhsaftiyas and the atunas

– הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר.

– it is permitted.

תְּנַן הָתָם:

We learned there:

The steps (19)

  1. StatementEnd of the list of permitted fish
  2. StatementThe משנה about fins and scales
  3. ChallengeWhy does the תורה mention fins at all?
  4. ResolutionWithout "fins," we might confuse scales with fins
  5. QuestionA פסוק shows that קשקשת means armor-like covering
  6. ChallengeThe question returns: why write fins?
  7. ResolutionThe extra word makes the Torah greater
  8. ChallengeWhy say both 'eat' and 'do not eat'?
  9. ResolutionTwo commands are broken
  10. ChallengeWhy say 'of all that are in the waters'?
  11. ResolutionPermitted even in pits, ditches and caves
  12. QuestionWhere did the Torah permit vessels?
  13. ResponseSeas and rivers need signs, vessels do not
  14. ChallengeMaybe vessels are forbidden even with signs
  15. ResolutionA second verse proves vessels are lenient
  16. ChallengeA general rule and detail would already permit pits
  17. ResolutionThe verse says 'in the waters' again
  18. ChallengeThe two general statements sit side by side
  19. Resolutionרבינא brings a rule from ארץ ישראל