Nazir 50a

נזיר נ׳ ע״א

Learn Nazir 50a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Why the משנה says a נזיר shaves for a dead body, what counts as נצל, and whether a poured stream connects vessels

Overview

The משנה lists kinds of טומאת מת that make a נזיר shave. The גמרא asks why it needs to say 'for a dead body', since smaller parts already make him shave. רבי יוסי answers that it means a corpse with less than a כזית of flesh. That answer is rejected with a קל וחומר from a limb. The גמרא then gives two better answers: רבי יוחנן's נפל whose limbs are not joined by sinews, and רבא's tiny body whose main frame or most of its bones hold less than a רובע עצמות. Next the גמרא defines נצל as corpse flesh or fluid that melted and then hardened. רבי ירמיה explains that hardening shows it is real corpse fluid and not phlegm or spittle. אביי asks רבה whether נצל applies to an animal, and a proof from melted fat is pushed away. Finally the גמרא quotes a משנה: a poured stream is pure, except for thick honey and batter.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. Statementרבי יוסי refuses to stay silent
2. Responseרבי יוסי: a corpse with less than an olive-bulk of flesh
3. ChallengeChallenge: a whole corpse is more than a limb
4. ResolutionUsing רבי יוחנן: a fetus without sinews
5. Resolutionרבא: most of a tiny skeleton
6. QuestionQuoting the משנה: what is נצל?
7. Responseנצל defined: congealed flesh and bubbled fluid
8. ChallengeWhen does congealing make any difference?
9. ResolutionCongealing tells us what kind of fluid it is
10. QuestionDoes נצל apply to an animal carcass?
11. ResponseAccording to one view, the question is easy
12. QuestionWhat about the opinion that impurity lasts until it is unfit for a dog?
13. ProofProof from fat melted in fire versus in the sun
14. RejectionSun-melted fat had already rotted into dust
15. StatementNew topic: anything poured is pure
16. StatementThick honey and batter are the exception