Nedarim 21a

נדרים כ״א ע״א

Learn Nedarim 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 21a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

נדרי זרוזין: who taught the משנה of the four vows, and do sharply worded bargaining vows count as real vows?

Overview

This amud opens with the last line of the משנה about נדרי זרוזין, vows made while bargaining: both sides really want to settle at three דינרים, so their extreme vows do not bind. The גמרא asks who taught this משנה. רבי אבא בר ממל quotes רבי יהודה נשיאה, who said it follows רבי יהודה, because רבי יהודה holds that נזירות takes effect only with clear, certain intent (הפלאה). רבא answers that even the רבנן can agree, because the משנה says 'both want', in the present tense, so they never meant the vows at all. רבינא then asks רב אשי about a sharper case: one vows on 'more than a סלע' and the other on 'less than a שקל'. Is that a real vow, or still just pressure? רב אשי answers from a משנה where a guest refusing a meal vowed not to taste 'a drop of cold water', yet he may still drink. That shows people simply talk this way, and the same is true of the bargainers. The amud ends as רבינא begins to reply, and his reply continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (7)

1. StatementEnd of the משנה: both sides really want three דינרים
2. StatementThe משנה follows רבי יהודה: נזירות needs clear intent
3. RejectionEven the רבנן agree: the משנה says 'want', not 'wanted'
4. QuestionA bigger gap: 'more than a סלע' versus 'less than a שקל'
5. Responseרב אשי quotes a similar משנה
6. ProofPeople talk this way, so the bargainers did too
7. Rejectionרבינא begins his reply