Gemara Clarity

Nazir 48a

נזיר מ״ח ע״א

Learn Nazir 48a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How the words of the נזיר פסוק teach two things: a גזירה שוה with the כהן גדול about נגעים and זיבה, and that a נזיר may become impure to bury a מת מצוה.

Overview

The גמרא keeps explaining why each word in the פסוק about a נזיר's relatives is needed. It says the word ולאמו is there for a גזירה שוה, as taught in a ברייתא of רבי. רבי says a נזיר may not become impure from his relatives' death, but he may become impure from their נגעים and זיבה. A קל וחומר already teaches that a כהן גדול may not become impure for his mother, so the word אמו in his section is free. That free word links him to the נזיר, so he has the same limited ban. The גמרא then asks for the source that a נזיר may become impure to bury a מת מצוה. A ברייתא shows that the נזיר's ban already covers every human dead body, so the words 'for his father and his mother' are free to allow a מת מצוה. A קל וחומר from the כהן גדול is rejected, because a נזיר brings a קרבן for his impurity. Finally, the idea that a נזיר may become impure for all other dead people is rejected by a קל וחומר from a כהן הדיוט.

Opening lines

״וּלְאִמּוֹ״ — לִגְזֵירָה שָׁוָה,

"Or for his mother" is for a verbal analogy,

לְכִדְרַבִּי.

according to the view of Rabbi.

דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר:

As it is taught: Rabbi says:

גַּבֵּי נָזִיר ״בְּמוֹתָם״ אֵינוֹ מִיטַּמֵּא,

Regarding a nazirite, "when they die": he may not become impure,

The steps (16)

  1. StatementThe word ולאמו is for a גזירה שוה
  2. Statementרבי: a נזיר is forbidden only in death, not in נגעים or זיבה
  3. QuestionHow do we know the same rule for a כהן גדול?
  4. ResponseA קל וחומר shows אמו is not needed for the כהן גדול
  5. ChallengeIf logic teaches it, why does the verse say "his mother"?
  6. ResolutionThe free word links the כהן גדול to the נזיר
  7. ConclusionLike a נזיר, a כהן גדול is forbidden only in death
  8. QuestionWhat is the source for the נזיר?
  9. ResponseThe verse speaks of a human body, not an animal
  10. Statementרבי ישמעאל proves it from the words 'shall not come'
  11. ConclusionFather and mother are excluded, but a מת מצוה is allowed
  12. ChallengeWhy a פסוק? A קל וחומר from the כהן גדול
  13. RejectionThe קל וחומר from the כהן גדול is rejected
  14. ResponseThe פסוק teaches he may become impure for a מת מצוה
  15. ChallengeMaybe he may become impure for all other dead
  16. RejectionA קל וחומר from a כהן הדיוט rejects this