Nedarim 18b

נדרים י״ח ע״ב

Learn Nedarim 18b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 18b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Unspecified vows are treated strictly but explanations leniently, and רבי זירא's answer to the contradiction from doubtful נזירות

Overview

This amud opens a new משנה with a rule for vows whose wording could mean two things. If the person gave no explanation, the vow is treated strictly, but if he explains that he meant the lenient meaning, we accept him. The משנה gives examples: salted meat and libation wine (שלמים or עבודה זרה), חרם (to Heaven or to כהנים), מעשר (animal or grain tithe), and תרומה (the Temple chamber fund or the granary gift). A vow works only when it compares an item to something holy through a vow, like a קרבן, and not to something the Torah forbids on its own or that is not forbidden at all. רבי מאיר reads every unexplained vow strictly. רבי יהודה says it depends on what the word means to people where the vow was made, so the rule differs between יהודה and the גליל. The גמרא then asks how unclear vows can be strict when another משנה says a doubt about נזירות is lenient. רבי זירא answers that the two משניות follow different תנאים, proving it from a ברייתא where the רבנן and רבי אליעזר argue about consecrating a כוי. The גמרא begins showing that whoever puts his money into doubt also puts himself into doubt, and this idea continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. StatementThe general rule: unclear vows are strict, explanations are lenient
2. StatementFirst example: like salted meat or like libation wine
3. StatementSecond example: like a חרם
4. StatementThird example: like מעשר
5. StatementA vow 'like תרומה': רבי מאיר's ruling
6. Statementרבי יהודה: It depends on local usage
7. ChallengeBut unclear נזירות is treated leniently
8. Resolutionרבי זירא: The two משניות follow different תנאים
9. ProofThe ברייתא of consecrating a כוי
10. ProofHow the כוי case connects to doubtful נזירות