Nazir 40b

נזיר מ׳ ע״ב

Learn Nazir 40b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Where does the rule come from that a מצורע must shave with a razor (תער)? The answer depends on the מחלוקת between the רבנן and רבי אליעזר about the prohibition of destroying the beard.

Overview

The גמרא finishes rejecting an attempt to compare a מצורע to a נזיר and the לוים: a מצורע's קרבן is cheaper when he is poor, so he might be treated more leniently. רבא בר משרשיא then asks רבא a question. The תנא earlier treated the מצורע's razor as obvious, yet here he cannot prove it, so where does it come from? רבא answers that the two statements follow two different opinions in a משנה about destroying the beard. The רבנן hold that the beard prohibition applies only to a razor. רבי אליעזר holds that it applies even to tweezers or a plane. For the רבנן, a ברייתא learns from the extra word "זקנו" that a מצורע must shave his beard despite the beard prohibition. Another ברייתא combines "shave" and "destroy" to show that the prohibition means a razor. When the גמרא suggests the word might only allow a razor, it answers that a קל וחומר from נזיר would already permit any tool, so "זקנו" must require a razor.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. RejectionA מצורע is different because his offering depends on wealth
2. ChallengeThe תנא seems to contradict himself about the מצורע's razor
3. ResolutionThe two sources follow two different opinions
4. ProofThe משנה where the רבנן and רבי אליעזר disagree about the beard
5. QuestionWhat is the reasoning of the רבנן?
6. ResponseThe word "זקנו" tells a מצורע to shave his beard despite the prohibition
7. QuestionHow do we know the beard prohibition means a razor?
8. ResponseThe ברייתא: only a razor both shaves and destroys
9. ChallengeMaybe the extra word only allows a razor
10. ResolutionWithout the extra word, a קל וחומר from נזיר would be enough