Sotah 33a

סוטה ל״ג ע״א

Learn Sotah 33a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sotah 33a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which things may be said in any language, and which only in לשון הקודש: שמע, תפלה, ברכת המזון, oaths, ביכורים and חליצה.

Overview

The amud continues the משנה's two lists: things that may be said in any language, and things that must be said only in לשון הקודש. First the גמרא asks whether the מחלוקת between רבי and רבנן about קריאת שמע shows what each side holds about the rest of the תורה. It answers no, because each side needs its own word only to cancel the other word in the פסוק. Next it explains that תפלה may be said in any language, because it is a request for רחמים. It challenges this from רבי יוחנן's statement that the angels do not understand Aramaic, and answers that his warning applies to a יחיד while the משנה is about a ציבור. When a בת קול is shown to have spoken Aramaic, the גמרא answers that a בת קול is different, or that the voice was גבריאל, who knows every language. Then it gives the sources for ברכת המזון, שבועת העדות and שבועת הפקדון being allowed in any language. Finally it shows why מקרא ביכורים must be in Hebrew, through a chain of two גזירה שוה comparisons, and explains how רבי יהודה and רבנן read the word "ככה" in the פסוק about חליצה.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. QuestionDoes רבי hold that the rest of the תורה may be said in any language?
2. Rejectionרבי needs "וְהָיוּ" only because "שְׁמַע" is also written
3. QuestionDo רבנן hold that the whole תורה must be said in Hebrew?
4. Rejectionרבנן need "שְׁמַע" only because "וְהָיוּ" is also written
5. StatementWhy prayer may be said in any language
6. ChallengeChallenge: angels ignore requests in Aramaic
7. ResolutionAnswer: individual versus community
8. ChallengeChallenge: a heavenly voice spoke Aramaic
9. ResolutionA Divine Voice is different
10. ResolutionIt was גבריאל, who knows seventy languages
11. StatementSource that ברכת המזון may be said in any language
12. StatementSource that שבועת העדות may be said in any language
13. Statementשבועת הפקדון is learned from שבועת העדות
14. StatementFirst fruits recitation must be in the holy tongue
15. QuestionHow do we know the Levites spoke Hebrew?
16. ResponseLearned from משה through the word "voice"
17. QuestionWhat do the Rabbis learn from the word "thus"?
18. ResponseOnly the actions of חליצה are essential
19. Responseרבי יהודה learns both lessons from the longer word
20. ConclusionThe Rabbis learn nothing from כה versus ככה