Pesachim 3b

פסחים ג׳ ע״ב

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

Open Pesachim 3b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Clean versus concise language in the תורה, and stories showing the value of careful, respectful speech.

Overview

The גמרא is in the middle of a discussion about how the תורה chooses clean, respectful wording. It finishes explaining why משה's wife is described as 'riding,' then asks the same about אביגיל and gives three answers: fear of the night, fear of דוד, or fear of the steep mountain. Next it asks why the תורה ever writes the blunt word טמא, and sets a rule: clean wording is used only when it is no longer than the blunt wording; otherwise shortness wins, as רב הונא taught, 'always teach your student in a short way.' It tests the rule on אביגיל's verse and answers that רכבת is spelled without a ו, so it is shorter. The גמרא then brings stories about speech: רב refuses to speak with a student who used a crude image, and a student who asked his question cleanly is promised he will become a halachic authority. A כהן who compared his portion to a lizard's tail is found to be flawed, and the גמרא explains how this fits the rule that a serving כהן is not investigated. A story follows of רבי יהודה בן בתירא exposing a gentile who ate the קרבן פסח. The amud ends with two stories about delivering bad news gently: the death of רב כהנא, and יוחנן חקוקאה's poorly chosen hint about the wheat crop.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. Resolutionמשה's wife rode because of the children
2. ChallengeChallenge from אביגיל riding on the donkey
3. ResolutionFirst answer: fear of the night
4. ResolutionSecond answer: fear of David
5. ResolutionThird answer: fear of the mountain slope
6. ChallengeChallenge: the Torah writes the word 'impure'
7. ResolutionThe rule: clean language only when it is equally short
8. ProofSupport: teach your student in a short way
9. ChallengeChallenge: 'riding' and 'sitting' are the same length
10. ResolutionAnswer: 'riding' is spelled short
11. Proofרב refuses to speak with the student who used a crude comparison
12. ProofThe student who asked his question cleanly is promised he will become a halachic authority
13. ProofThe priest who compared his portion to a lizard's tail is found to have a flawed lineage
14. ChallengeChallenge: a priest who served at the altar should not be investigated
15. ResolutionThe flaw found was arrogance, not bad lineage
16. ResolutionA כהן who insults himself is different
17. StatementA gentile boasts that he eats the קרבן פסח
18. Statementרבי יהודה בן בתירא sets a trap with the אליה
19. StatementThey investigate and expose the gentile
20. Conclusionירושלים sends thanks to רבי יהודה בן בתירא
21. StatementThe חכמים send someone to check on the sick רב כהנא
22. StatementHe finds רב כהנא has died and signals it without words
23. QuestionThe רבנן ask whether רב כהנא died
24. ResponseI did not say it: a fool spreads bad news
25. Statementיוחנן חקוקאה hints the wheat failed by praising the barley
26. ChallengeThey mock him: go tell the horses and donkeys
27. QuestionWhat should he have said instead?
28. ResponseBetter options: last year's wheat, or the lentils