Pesachim 18a

פסחים י״ח ע״א

Learn Pesachim 18a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 18a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Is טומאת משקין דאורייתא? רבי יהודה's retraction and רבי יוסי's source in the word 'יטמא'

Overview

The גמרא first asks whether רבי יהודה fully gave up his view that liquids make things impure on a Torah level, or only gave it up for vessels (כלים) but not for foods (אוכלין). It tests this with a משנה about a cow that drank מי חטאת, where רבי יהודה says the water is 'nullified in its innards' (בטלו במעיה). The proof is pushed off: 'nullified' may mean only from the severe impurity, and the whole משנה is read as רבי יהודה's view with words missing (חסורי מיחסרא). רב אשי gives another answer: the water is fully nullified because it becomes a foul liquid (משקה סרוח), so the case proves nothing either way. The גמרא then turns to רבי יוסי and רבי שמעון, who say a doubtful impure liquid makes foods impure but not vessels. ריש לקיש explains that רבי יוסי follows רבי עקיבא, who reads 'יִטְמָא' (will be impure) as 'יְטַמֵּא' (will make impure). Using the two יטמא's in the פסוק, the גמרא shows that the second one teaches that liquids make foods impure. It is not about other liquids, as רב פפא and רבינא prove. It is not about vessels either, because of a קל וחומר and because the פסוק speaks only of liquids made impure through a vessel.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ProofAttempted proof that רבי יהודה retracted completely
2. ProofSpelling out the proof: at least the lighter impurity should remain
3. RejectionRejection: 'nullified' means only from the severe impurity
4. ChallengeProblem with the rejection: what would the תנא קמא hold?
5. ResolutionAnswer: the whole משנה is רבי יהודה, with words missing
6. Rejectionרב אשי: The water is fully nullified because it becomes foul
7. Statementרבי יוסי and רבי שמעון: Impure for foods, pure for vessels
8. Statementריש לקיש: רבי יוסי follows רבי עקיבא's reading of 'יטמא'
9. ProofProof that רבי עקיבא reads 'יטמא' as 'it makes impure'
10. QuestionHow does רבי יוסי read the verse about liquids?
11. ResponseThe liquids verse: 'יטמא' teaches liquids make foods impure
12. ChallengeMaybe the verse means liquids make only other liquids impure
13. ResolutionThe reply begins: 'That is not how it was'
14. QuestionWhat does 'That was not so' mean?
15. Responseרב פפא: impurity never makes the same kind of thing impure
16. Responseרבינא: the wording of the verse itself rules it out
17. ConclusionTwo words, two lessons: liquids and foods
18. ChallengeMaybe the word teaches that liquids make vessels impure
19. ResolutionA קל וחומר: liquids cannot make vessels impure
20. ChallengeMaybe liquids made impure by a creeping creature can make vessels impure
21. ResolutionThe verse never speaks of liquids made impure by a creeping creature