Nedarim 80a

נדרים פ׳ ע״א

Learn Nedarim 80a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Explaining the case of 'אם ארחץ' in the משנה about vows a husband may cancel (נדרי עינוי נפש), and explaining why רבי יוסי disagrees

Overview

The משנה lists the vow 'if I bathe' (אם ארחץ) as a vow of affliction (עינוי נפש) that a husband can cancel. רבי יוסי disagrees and says such vows are not עינוי נפש. The גמרא tries to work out exactly what the woman vowed so that both views make sense. First it suggests she said bathing is forbidden to her forever if she bathes. Then she is trapped: bathing sets off a lifelong ban, and not bathing leaves her disfigured. On this reading, רבי יוסי holds she can simply not bathe, and we do not worry about the disfigurement. The גמרא objects that if this were his reason, רבי יוסי should have said 'this condition has no affliction.' So the גמרא gives a final version: she said bathing is forbidden to her forever if she bathes today. רבי יוסי holds that being unwashed for one day does not count as disfigurement, so the vow is not עינוי נפש.

Opening lines

The steps (4)

1. ResolutionA new explanation: she forbade bathing forever if she bathes
2. ResolutionWhy רבי יוסי disagrees: she can just not bathe
3. ChallengeThen רבי יוסי should have spoken about the condition
4. ResolutionFinal explanation: if I bathe today