Niddah 49a

נדה מ״ט ע״א

Learn Niddah 49a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 49a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why the משנה repeats the rule about the signs of maturity, and the 'כיוצא בו' cases, especially holes in a כלי חרס.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier discussion with one more answer. The ברייתא follows רבי שמעון and speaks about a girl past the age of maturity, and רבי שמעון does not accept רבא's חזקה. Next the גמרא asks why the משנה repeats that the upper sign cannot come before the lower sign. One answer is that the repeat shows the הלכה follows the רבנן. That is needed even though the majority usually wins, because פסוקים seem to support רבי מאיר. A second answer is that the line leads into the next משנה, 'כיוצא בו'. That משנה lists three one-way rules: holes in a כלי חרס, a limb with a nail and a bone, and מדרס compared with טמא מת. The גמרא then explains what the two hole sizes mean for מי חטאת and for a גסטרא. רב אסי teaches that the smaller 'lets out' size counts only for a גסטרא, because nobody patches a shard with another shard. Last, a ברייתא gives a test: set the pot in a tub of water to see whether water comes in.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. ResolutionAnother answer: the ברייתא follows רבי שמעון, past the age of maturity
2. ChallengeWhy does the משנה repeat that the upper sign cannot come first?
3. RejectionSuggested answer, siding with the רבנן, is called obvious
4. ResolutionIt is needed, because פסוקים seem to support רבי מאיר
5. ResolutionAnother answer: the line leads into the next case
6. StatementThree cases where one thing always includes another
7. StatementWhat the in-hole and out-hole mean for the clay vessel
8. StatementThe general hole size for a clay vessel is 'lets liquid in'
9. QuestionWhy is a shard different?
10. ResponseNobody patches a shard with another shard
11. StatementHow to test whether a hole lets liquid in