Sanhedrin 4a

סנהדרין ד׳ ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 4a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 4a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

יש אם למקרא versus יש אם למסורת: whether the reading aloud or the spelling of a פסוק decides the הלכה

Overview

The גמרא finishes the debate over the word ירשיען. רבי learns from its plural pronunciation that monetary cases need several judges, and the רבנן answer that the written letters can be read as singular. רבי יוחנן then names five תנאים who all hold יש אם למקרא, meaning the way a פסוק is read aloud decides the הלכה: רבי, רבי יהודה בן רועץ, בית שמאי, רבי שמעון and רבי עקיבא. The גמרא proves each one. רבי יהודה בן רועץ reads 'two weeks', not 'seventy', for the impurity of a mother after a girl. בית שמאי count six 'horns' for a חטאת, while בית הלל count four by the spelling. רבי שמעון counts the walls of a סוכה by the reading, while the רבנן count by the spelling. רבי עקיבא reads נפשת as plural, so blood from two dead people joins together. At the end, רב אחא בר יעקב challenges the whole idea by asking whether anyone really rejects יש אם למקרא, and he starts quoting a ברייתא about בחלב אמו that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ResolutionThe Rabbis answer: the word is written in a way that can be singular
2. StatementFive תנאים all hold that the reading aloud is what counts
3. ProofThe source for רבי: what was just said
4. ProofThe source for רבי יהודה בן רועץ: the students' question about 'seventy'
5. Responseרבי יהודה בן רועץ proves the impurity period is doubled, not seventy days
6. ConclusionThe real reason: we follow how the word is read
7. Proofבית שמאי and בית הלל argue about blood presentations on the altar
8. Statementרב הונא explains בית שמאי's source: six horns
9. Statementבית הלל count the horns by spelling
10. ChallengeWhy not say all four are only for the ideal?
11. ResolutionNo atonement without any blood
12. Proofרבי שמעון and the walls of a סוכה
13. QuestionWhat is the root of their argument?
14. ResponseSpelling versus reading
15. StatementHow the רבנן count the סוכה walls
16. StatementHow רבי שמעון counts the walls of a סוכה
17. Proofרבי עקיבא also follows the reading: blood from two dead people
18. StatementThe רבנן go by the spelling of נפשת
19. Challengeרב אחא בר יעקב asks: doesn't everyone follow the reading?