Nedarim 4a

נדרים ד׳ ע״א

Learn Nedarim 4a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 4a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How the prohibition of בל תאחר (do not delay a vow) can apply to a נזיר

Overview

The גמרא is looking for a way a person who vowed נזירות could break בל תאחר, the rule against delaying a vow. רב אחא בר יעקב suggests someone who vowed while in a cemetery. The answer holds even if the נזירות starts right away, because he is still putting off a pure נזירות. From this, רב אשי rules that a נזיר who makes himself טמא on purpose also breaks בל תאחר. רב אחא בריה דרב איקא says the delay can be in the final shaving, and מר זוטרא says it can be in the קרבנות. The גמרא then asks why we need the נזיר source for the קרבנות, since the פסוק 'כי דרש ידרשנו' already covers חטאות and אשמות. It answers that נזיר is a חידוש, and then tries to pin down what that חידוש is. Two suggestions are rejected, and a third begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next one.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ResponseA vow made in a cemetery
2. ChallengeThis only works if the vow does not start right away
3. ChallengeEveryone agrees it starts right away
4. ResolutionHe is delaying a pure נזירות
5. StatementA נזיר who makes himself impure on purpose
6. ResponseDelaying the final shaving
7. StatementDelaying the shaving works for both opinions
8. Responseמר זוטרא: delaying the offerings
9. ChallengeOfferings already have their own source
10. ResolutionA נזיר's offerings might have been unique
11. QuestionWhat exactly is the חידוש of a נזיר?
12. RejectionA regular חטאת חלב is the same, so that is not a חידוש
13. ResolutionSecond answer: a vow from grape seeds makes a full נזיר
14. ChallengeThis does not work for רבי שמעון
15. ChallengeA strict חידוש should not lead to a leniency
16. ResolutionStarting a third explanation of the חידוש