Gemara Clarity

Nedarim 2a

נדרים ב׳ ע״א

Learn Nedarim 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The opening משנה of מסכת נדרים: substitute words and partial wording that still make a vow binding

Overview

This amud opens מסכת נדרים with its first משנה. It teaches that substitute words for נדרים, חרמים, שבועות and נזירות work just like the original words, so a word like קונם counts the same as קרבן. Next, the משנה lists short or incomplete phrases a person might say to his friend, such as "I am avowed from you," "I am separated from you," or "that which I eat of yours." Even though these phrases are not full vow formulas, the speaker's meaning is clear, and the friend's food becomes forbidden to him. Finally, the משנה brings the phrase "I am ostracized from you," which does not clearly forbid anything. רבי עקיבא was unsure about this phrase but leaned toward being strict and treating it as a vow.

Opening lines

כָּל כִּינּוּיֵי נְדָרִים — כִּנְדָרִים,

All substitute terms for vows are like vows,

וַחֲרָמִים — כַּחֲרָמִים,

and substitutes for dedications are like dedications,

וּשְׁבוּעוֹת — כִּשְׁבוּעוֹת,

and substitutes for oaths are like oaths,

וּנְזִירוּת — כִּנְזִירוּת.

and substitutes for nazirite vows are like nazirite vows.

The steps (3)

  1. StatementSubstitute words work like the real vow words
  2. StatementShort or incomplete vow phrases still create a prohibition
  3. Statement"I am ostracized from you": רבי עקיבא leans strict