Shevuos 21b

שבועות כ״א ע״ב

Shevuot 21b

Learn Shevuos 21b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shevuos 21b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which opinion the oath משנה follows, and whether רבי עקיבא holds that eating any amount brings liability everywhere or only with oaths

Overview

The גמרא first looks at the words "זו היא" ("this is") at the end of the משנה about שבועת שוא and asks what they come to exclude. After going back and forth, it concludes that the whole משנה follows רבי עקיבא, because a line about future oaths should exclude a future case. Next it turns to רבי עקיבא's ruling that someone who swore not to eat is liable for eating any amount. It asks whether רבי עקיבא holds like רבי שמעון, that a tiny amount brings liability everywhere, or only rules this way for oaths. One proof from the משנה is pushed off, but proofs from a נזיר who soaked bread in wine and from ריש לקיש's explanation of an oath on forbidden foods show that, in general, רבי עקיבא holds like the רבנן. Finally the גמרא tests the רבנן's question "where do we find liability for any amount?" with an ant, הקדש, and a clearly stated oath, and answers each one. The case of dirt cannot be answered that way, so the גמרא begins to reword the רבנן's question, and this continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ChallengeWhat does "this is" exclude in the line about vain oaths?
2. RejectionNo — "this is" excludes a vain oath from a קרבן
3. ChallengeA split משנה? First half רבי ישמעאל, second half רבי עקיבא
4. ResolutionThe whole משנה is רבי עקיבא; the first part excludes "I will eat" from מלקות
5. QuestionWhy is this reading better?
6. ResponseA line about the future should exclude a future case
7. StatementQuoting the משנה: an oath not to eat, and he ate a tiny amount
8. QuestionDoes רבי עקיבא hold like רבי שמעון everywhere?
9. ResolutionWhy the argument appears here and not in general
10. QuestionThe other side: maybe רבי עקיבא agrees with the רבנן in general
11. ProofThe proof: what the רבנן said to רבי עקיבא
12. ProofWhy רבי עקיבא's silence shows he does not hold like רבי שמעון
13. Rejectionרבי עקיבא was arguing on the Rabbis' own terms
14. ProofProof from the נזיר who soaked bread in wine
15. ProofAnother source: an oath not to eat, then eating forbidden foods
16. ChallengeHow can an oath take hold on food already forbidden?
17. ResolutionAnswer: he included permitted foods in the oath
18. Resolutionריש לקיש's answer: a half-measure, using רבי עקיבא's view
19. ProofIf רבי עקיבא held like רבי שמעון, the oath could never take hold
20. ConclusionConclusion: רבי עקיבא generally holds like the רבנן
21. StatementQuoting the רבנן's question to רבי עקיבא
22. ChallengeBut someone who eats a whole ant is liable
23. ResolutionA whole creature is different
24. ChallengeBut someone who eats הקדש is liable for less than a כזית
25. Resolutionהקדש still needs a פרוטה's worth
26. ChallengeBut someone who clearly swore off any amount is liable
27. ResolutionSpelling it out makes it like a whole creature
28. ChallengeA fourth challenge from the case of dirt
29. ResolutionThe גמרא begins to restate the רבנן's question