Nedarim 90a

נדרים צ׳ ע״א

Learn Nedarim 90a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 90a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Can a vow be undone before it has taken effect? The difference between a husband's הפרה and a חכם's שאלה (התרה).

Overview

The amud closes a story in which רב אחא בר רב הוּנא let a man's vow take effect, covering him with clay, before bringing him to רב חסדא to have it undone. רבא praises this move. He explains that רב אחא held that the argument between רבי נתן and the רבנן about a husband's הפרה before a vow takes effect also applies to שאלה before a חכם. רב פפי disagrees and says the argument is only about הפרה. For שאלה, everyone agrees the vow must already have taken effect, based on 'לא יחל דברו'. The גמרא tries to support רב פפי from two ברייתות that require two linked vows to be asked about in a set order. The first proof is pushed aside because the ברייתא never says which vow counts as 'first.' The second is pushed aside because that ברייתא may follow רבי נתן alone. Finally, רבינא reports, through מרימר, a second version of רב פפי with the opposite rule: everyone agrees a חכם can release a vow even before it takes effect, also based on 'לא יחל דברו'. The explanation of how that פסוק teaches this continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (9)

1. StatementThe end of the story: smeared with clay and brought to רב חסדא
2. Statementרבא explains why רב אחא's plan was wise
3. Statementרב פפי: the argument is only about הפרה
4. StatementFor שאלה, everyone agrees the vow must take effect first
5. ProofA ברייתא about two linked vows seems to support רב פפי
6. RejectionThe first ברייתא does not prove which vow counts as first
7. ProofA second ברייתא: the vow of נזירות that depends on asking to undo the first vow
8. RejectionThe ברייתא may follow רבי נתן
9. StatementA second version of רב פפי: a חכם can release even before the vow takes effect