Nedarim 5b

נדרים ה׳ ע״ב

Learn Nedarim 5b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 5b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Do unclear partial vow-expressions (ידים שאין מוכיחות) count? This covers שמואל, the dispute between אביי and רבא, and whether that dispute matches רבי יהודה and רבנן on a גט.

Overview

The גמרא asks whether שמואל's ruling, that a person must say 'that I eat of yours', means he holds that unclear partial vow-wording (ידים שאין מוכיחות) does not count. It answers yes: שמואל reads the משנה like רבי יהודה, who requires a גט to say clearly that it is the divorce document. The גמרא asks why שמואל would follow this minority view instead of רבנן. רבא answers that the משנה's extra word 'of yours' shows that clear wording is required. The גמרא then states a direct dispute: אביי says unclear partial expressions count, and רבא says they do not. רבא brings a source from the פסוק 'נזיר להזיר לה׳', which compares ידות נזירות to נזירות itself. The גמרא suggests that אביי and רבא simply follow רבנן and רבי יהודה about a גט. אביי answers that רבי יהודה was strict only for a גט, because a גט needs complete severance (כריתות). רבא begins to answer that רבנן were lenient only for a גט, and his reason continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. QuestionDoes שמואל hold that unclear wording does not count?
2. ResponseYes, שמואל follows רבי יהודה
3. ProofSource for רבי יהודה's view: the wording of a גט
4. ChallengeWhy not follow רבנן instead?
5. ResolutionThe משנה's extra word 'of yours' forced שמואל's reading
6. Statementאביי and רבא disagree about unclear partial expressions
7. Proofרבא's source from the פסוק about נזירות
8. QuestionIs this the same dispute as רבי יהודה and רבנן about a גט?
9. Rejectionאביי: even רבי יהודה only requires clarity for a גט
10. Rejectionרבא: even רבנן were lenient only for a גט