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Nazir 2a

נזיר ב׳ ע״א

Learn Nazir 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nazir 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Opening of מסכת נזיר: wording that makes one a נזיר, why נזיר is in סדר נשים, and the order in which a משנה explains its items

Overview

The first משנה of נזיר teaches that a person becomes a נזיר even with substitute words for נזירות (כינויים) and with short, incomplete phrases (ידות). It gives examples like 'אהא,' changed forms of the word נזיר, and phrases about growing hair. It then brings a מחלוקת between רבי מאיר and חכמים about someone who says 'birds are upon me.' The גמרא first asks why נזיר sits in סדר נשים. It answers that wine leads to sin, so anyone who sees a סוטה disgraced should keep away from wine. Next it notices that the משנה opens with כינויים but explains ידות, and רבא says the משנה is missing words. The גמרא then asks why ידות are explained first. It suggests that a משנה explains the last item first, and proves this from three משניות in שבת. Two other משניות go the other way, so the גמרא concludes that the תנא uses both styles. A personal איסור is explained first, but when the איסור comes through an animal, the permitted side comes first.

Opening lines

כׇּל כִּינּוּיֵי נְזִירוּת

All substitute words for נזירות

— כִּנְזִירוּת.

are like נזירות.

הָאוֹמֵר ״אֱהֵא״ — הֲרֵי זֶה נָזִיר,

One who says 'I will be' is a נזיר,

אוֹ ״אֱהֵא נָאֶה״ — נָזִיר,

or 'I will be beautiful,' he is a נזיר,

The steps (18)

  1. StatementSubstitute words for נזירות work like the real word
  2. StatementSaying 'I will be' or 'I will be beautiful'
  3. StatementTwisted forms of the word נזיר
  4. StatementHair-related phrases make one a נזיר
  5. Statement'Birds are upon me': a dispute
  6. QuestionWhy is נזיר in סדר נשים?
  7. ResponseNazir follows the verse about the unfaithful wife
  8. ChallengeThe משנה opens with substitutes but explains intimations
  9. Resolutionרבא: the משנה is missing words
  10. ChallengeThen why not explain substitutes first?
  11. ResolutionThe last item mentioned is explained first
  12. ProofProof from the משנה of שבת lamps
  13. ProofSecond proof: insulating food
  14. ProofThird proof: what a woman may go out with
  15. ChallengeChallenge: the animal משנה explains the first item first
  16. ChallengeSecond counter-example: inheritance
  17. ResolutionThe תנא teaches both ways
  18. ResolutionWhy a person's own איסור is explained first but the animal case starts with the permitted