Niddah 35a
נדה ל״ה ע״א
Learn Niddah 35a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
Open Niddah 35a in Gemara Clarity
Topic
A מצורע's זיבה as a מעין, and whether a זב's first sighting is טמא even from אונס
Overview
This amud opens with רבא finishing a proof. A פסוק about זיבה must be about a זב who is also a מצורע, so since the פסוק was needed to include his second sighting, the place of זיבה is not a מעין. רב יהודה מדסקרתא answers that the case of the שעיר המשתלח breaks רבא's כל שכן argument. אביי then shows that רב יוסף's own reading of the פסוקים compares a מצורע to a full זב, so even a מצורע's first sighting is מטמא במשא. Next, רב הונא rules that a זב's first sighting makes him טמא even when it comes from אונס, just like שכבת זרע. The גמרא tests this against a משנה about checking a זב after each sighting. It explains that the checks are about the קרבן. It also explains that רבי אליעזר and the רבנן argue only about whether the word אֶת in the פסוק adds a sighting. Finally, the גמרא brings רבי יצחק's teaching that a זב is not made טמא through אונס, a new challenge to רב הונא that continues on the next amud.
Opening lines
לַאֲחֵרִים גּוֹרֵם טוּמְאָה,
If it causes impurity to others,
לְעַצְמוֹ לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?
is it not all the more so for itself?
אֶלָּא פְּשִׁיטָא בְּזָב מְצוֹרָע,
Rather, it is obvious that it is about a זב who is a מצורע.
וּמִדְּאִיצְטְרִיךְ קְרָא
And since a verse was needed
The steps (15)
- ProofThe verse must be about a זב who is also a מצורע
- ProofThe place of זיבה is not a מעין
- RejectionThe scapegoat breaks the כל שכן argument
- Challengeאביי: רב יוסף's own reading already answers his question
- ProofThe Torah compares a מצורע to a full זב
- StatementA זב's first sighting is טמא even if caused by אונס
- ChallengeWhy check the first sighting if אונס does not matter?
- ResolutionThe check is only about the קרבן
- ChallengeThe second sighting's check must be about טומאה
- RejectionEach check can have its own purpose
- ChallengeProof from רבי אליעזר's view in the same משנה
- ResolutionEveryone agrees the checks are about the קרבן; they argue about the word אֶת
- StatementHow the רבנן count the sightings from the פסוק
- StatementHow רבי אליעזר counts the sightings in the verse
- Challengeרבי יצחק: a זב is not made impure through אונס