Shevuos 36a

שבועות ל״ו ע״א

Shevuot 36a

Learn Shevuos 36a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Words that make an oath or curse (אלה, ארור, אמן, 'no'/'yes'), cursing with ה׳'s names, and whether רבי מאיר infers a 'yes' from a 'no'

Overview

This amud continues the topic of putting witnesses under oath (שבועת העדות). It first learns that an אלה alone or a שבועה alone is enough, and it proves that אלה means an oath. Next it shows that the word ארור has three meanings: נידוי, קללה and שבועה. Along the way it uses the missing 'ו' in 'ארור' to answer a challenge. רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא teaches the three meanings of אמן. Then רבי אלעזר and רבא teach that 'no, no' or 'yes, yes' can be an oath. Back in the משנה, רבי מאיר and the חכמים argue about cursing ה׳ or parents with a כינוי, and everyone agrees that cursing oneself or another person is forbidden. Two stories teach that one should reword a curse so it does not sound aimed at one's teacher, even when quoting a פסוק. Finally, the גמרא asks how רבי מאיר can infer a 'yes' from a 'no' when a witness is told 'may God bless you'. It answers that the difference is money matters versus איסור matters, and then challenges that answer from סוטה. The challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (45)

1. QuestionDoes a curse alone or an oath alone count?
2. ResponseThe verse splits 'voice of an אלה' into two
3. StatementProof that אלה means an oath
4. StatementThe word ארור has three meanings
5. Proofארור means a ban: the story of מרוז
6. ProofProof that ארור includes a curse
7. ProofFirst attempt to prove that ארור includes an oath
8. ChallengeMaybe יהושע did two separate things
9. ProofNew proof of the oath from שאול
10. ChallengeThe same challenge against the proof from שאול
11. ResolutionThe פסוק does not say 'and cursed'
12. ConclusionThe same answer saves the proof from יהושע
13. StatementThe word אמן has three meanings
14. ProofSource that אמן can be an oath
15. ProofSource that אמן can mean accepting what was said
16. ProofSource that אמן can mean confirming and wishing it comes true
17. StatementA plain 'no' or 'yes' can be an oath
18. ProofProof that 'no' is an oath from the flood
19. QuestionWhere do we learn that 'yes' is an oath?
20. Response'Yes' is learned from logic
21. StatementOnly when said twice
22. ProofThe flood promise said 'no' twice
23. StatementBack to the משנה: cursing with any of the names
24. QuestionWhy does the Torah need a second פסוק about cursing?
25. Responseרבי מאיר: the extra פסוק includes the כינויים
26. Statementחכמים: death for the special name, a prohibition for the כינויים
27. QuestionWho are the חכמים in the case of cursing parents?
28. ResponseIt is רבי מנחם בר יוסי, who learns it from the word 'שם'
29. Statementרבי ינאי: everyone agrees about cursing oneself or another
30. ProofThe source for the איסור of cursing oneself
31. ProofThe source for the איסור of cursing another person
32. StatementThe curse that is written in the תורה
33. Statementרב כהנא is told to say the curse politely
34. StatementA student is told to say a פסוק politely
35. QuestionWhy tell both stories?
36. ResponseEven פסוקים may be said politely
37. StatementA blessing that hints at a curse
38. Challengeרבי מאיר doesn't usually infer a positive from a negative
39. ResolutionReverse the opinions
40. Rejectionרב יוסף: our version of the משנה is exact
41. ChallengeThe question comes back
42. ResolutionMoney matters vs. איסור matters
43. ChallengeBut סוטה is an איסור case
44. Statementרבי תנחום בר חכינאי: the word הִנָּקִי is written
45. ChallengeWithout הִנָּקִי, the inference would not work even for איסור