Gemara Clarity

Gittin 46a

גיטין מ״ו ע״א

Learn Gittin 46a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 46a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The ban on remarrying a wife divorced for a bad name or a vow: its reason, when it applies, and when it does not

Overview

The amud asks why a man who divorced his wife because of a bad name (שם רע) or a vow (נדר) may not remarry her. In one version of רב נחמן's teaching, the reason is קלקולא: the fear that the husband will later attack the גט, so he should not state his reason. In another version, it is a penalty that warns Jewish women not to be careless with עריות and נדרים, so he must state it. The גמרא brings a ברייתא supporting each version: רבי מאיר for the first and רבי אלעזר ברבי יוסי for the second. Next it explains רבי יהודה's view that only a vow known to רבים blocks remarriage, which he learns from the oath to the גבעונים. The רבנן reject that proof. רב נחמן and רבי יצחק then argue whether רבים means three or ten people. The גמרא then explains the dispute between רבי מאיר and רבי אלעזר over vows that need a חכם, which depends on whether a husband minds his wife being embarrassed in בית דין. Finally, it fills in a missing line in the משנה: if the husband made the vow, he may remarry her, as the story in צידן shows.

Opening lines

״מִשּׁוּם נֶדֶר אֲנִי מוֹצִיאֵךְ״ –

"Because of a vow I am sending you out."

קָסָבַר: טַעְמָא מַאי –

He holds: what is the reason?

מִשּׁוּם קִלְקוּלָא;

Because of the harm.

אִי אָמַר לַהּ הָכִי –

If he said this to her,

The steps (17)

  1. StatementFirst version: the worry is that he could ruin her later
  2. StatementSecond version: he must tell her the reason
  3. StatementEach version has a supporting ברייתא
  4. Proofרבי מאיר's ברייתא supports the worry about ruining the divorce
  5. ProofA ברייתא supporting the second version
  6. Statementרבי יהודה: only a vow known to many blocks remarriage
  7. QuestionWhat is רבי יהודה's reason?
  8. ResponseThe source: the oath to the גבעונים
  9. RejectionThe רבנן reject the proof from the גבעונים
  10. QuestionHow many people count as many?
  11. ResponseThree or ten
  12. ProofWhere the numbers three and ten come from
  13. Statementרבי אלעזר explains the reason behind רבי מאיר's rule differently
  14. QuestionWhat is the root of their disagreement?
  15. ResponseDoes a husband mind his wife being embarrassed in court?
  16. ChallengeWhy does the משנה bring the story from צידן?
  17. ResolutionThe משנה is missing a line about the husband's vow