Nedarim 42a

נדרים מ״ב ע״א

Learn Nedarim 42a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 42a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

A vow forbidding benefit from someone else's property, and how שביעית (when fruit becomes ownerless) affects that vow

Overview

The משנה teaches that someone under a vow not to benefit from his friend may never walk into his friend's field. He may eat fruit leaning out of it only during שביעית, when the fruit is ownerless. If the vow covered only food, he may walk in, and during שביעית he may also eat. The גמרא brings רב and שמואל: if the owner said 'these properties' before שביעית, the fruit stays forbidden even once שביעית comes. רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש say that if he said 'my properties,' the fruit becomes permitted in שביעית. The גמרא suggests they disagree about whether a person can forbid his item even after it leaves his ownership. It then attacks that idea. If anyone held this view, they should have argued about 'these properties' too. Also, a משנה about a father who forbids his son from benefiting from him seems to show that a vow can reach past ownership. That proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (7)

1. StatementA benefit vow before and during the Sabbatical Year
2. StatementA vow forbidding only his friend's food
3. Statementרב and שמואל: a vow before the Sabbatical Year stays in force
4. Statementרבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש: the fruit becomes permitted
5. QuestionSuggesting the principle behind their disagreement
6. ChallengeDoes anyone really say a vow stops when the item leaves the owner?
7. ChallengeA משנה shows a vow can last past ownership