Pesachim 3a

פסחים ג׳ ע״א

Learn Pesachim 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 3a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Proofs that אור means night, and the value of refined speech (לשון נקיה).

Overview

The גמרא proves that the word אור, in the phrase 'אור לארבעה עשר' of our משנה, means night (אורתא). It brings four proofs. The first is בית הלל's argument about a woman who miscarries on אור of the 81st day. The second is a ברייתא that calls the night after the second day of שלמים 'אור לשלישי'. The third is the order of the יום הכפורים prayers, where אור comes before שחרית. The fourth is the school of שמואל, which says 'the night of the fourteenth'. Because of these proofs, the גמרא concludes that רב הונא and רב יהודה never really disagreed: each used the local word for evening. The גמרא then asks why our משנה said אור rather than 'night', and answers that it chose refined language (לשון נקיה). It supports this with verses that add extra letters, or pick modest words, to avoid crude speech. The amud ends with challenges from verses where women are described as riding: רבקה on camels, and משה's wife on a donkey. The answer to the second challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ProofA case from the משנה: miscarriage on אור of the 81st day
2. Statementבית הלל argue that night and day of the 81st are the same
3. ConclusionProof that אור means night
4. ChallengeA ברייתא about eating שלמים on אור of the third day
5. RejectionThe פסוק limits שלמים to 'while it is still day'
6. StatementThe ברייתא suggests burning leftover שלמים right away
7. RejectionThe פסוק says burning is done by day
8. ConclusionThe ברייתא's wording proves אור means night
9. ProofThe order of יום הכפורים prayers
10. ConclusionThe יום הכפורים list proves אור means night
11. Proofדבי שמואל says 'the night of the fourteenth'
12. ConclusionThe parallel wording proves אור means night
13. Resolutionרב הונא and רב יהודה never disagreed
14. QuestionWhy did our משנה not just say 'night'?
15. ResponseThe משנה chose a refined word
16. ProofThe תורה added eight letters to avoid saying 'impure'
17. Statementרב פפא finds a verse with nine extra letters
18. Statementרבינא counts ten letters
19. Statementרב אחא בר יעקב finds sixteen extra letters
20. ProofThe תורה says 'riding' for a man but 'sitting' for a woman
21. ProofMore verses about choosing refined words
22. QuestionWhy does the ברייתא add more verses?
23. ResponseThe second verse extends clean speech to rabbinic language
24. ResponseThe third verse extends clean speech to everyday talk
25. ChallengeChallenge: רבקה is described as riding camels
26. ResolutionCamels are different: riding them is normal for women
27. ChallengeSecond challenge: משה put his wife on a donkey
28. ResolutionThe answer about משה's wife begins