Zevachim 50b
זבחים נ׳ ע״ב
Learn Zevachim 50b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
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Topic
Which ways of deriving law can pass a derived law on further: גזירה שוה, היקש, קל וחומר and בנין אב.
Overview
This amud continues the sugya of 'למד מן הלמד': can a law that was itself derived go on to teach another law? It opens by finishing רמי בר חמא's proof that a law learned through a גזירה שוה can teach through another גזירה שוה. The burned bulls are cut up, not skinned. The גמרא then shows with a קל וחומר that a גזירה שוה-learned law can teach through a קל וחומר. It first builds that proof on רב פפא. Because not everyone accepts רב פפא, it rebuilds the proof on רמי בר חמא. Whether such a law can teach through a בנין אב stays unresolved, and the גמרא says תיקו. Next it turns to laws learned through a קל וחומר. Teaching through a היקש ends in תיקו, because that proof depends on רב פפא. Teaching through a גזירה שוה is proven. Teaching through another קל וחומר is proven only after a first proof is rejected as a 'grandson' of a קל וחומר. Finally, רבי ירמיה starts to show from רבי מאיר's argument about a bird given מליקה and found to be a טריפה that a law learned through a קל וחומר can teach through a בנין אב. That argument continues on the next amud.
Opening lines
וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן עוֹר וּבָשָׂר וָפֶרֶשׁ;
And it is said there: skin, flesh, and dung;
מָה לְהַלָּן – עַל יְדֵי נִיתּוּחַ
just as there, it is by means of cutting into pieces
שֶׁלֹּא בְּהֶפְשֵׁט,
without flaying,
אַף כָּאן – עַל יְדֵי נִיתּוּחַ
so too here, it is by means of cutting into pieces
The steps (19)
- ProofFinishing the proof: burned bulls are cut up, not skinned
- QuestionCan a גזירה שוה-learned law teach through a קל וחומר?
- ResponseAnswer through a קל וחומר based on רב פפא
- ChallengeWhat about those who reject רב פפא?
- ResolutionA new קל וחומר based on רמי בר חמא
- QuestionCan a law learned by גזירה שוה teach through a בנין אב? Unresolved
- QuestionCan a law learned by קל וחומר teach through a היקש?
- ResponseA קל וחומר shows it can teach through a היקש
- ChallengeThe proof depends on רב פפא, so the question stays open
- QuestionCan a law learned by קל וחומר teach through a גזירה שוה?
- ResponseA קל וחומר built on רמי בר חמא shows it can teach through a גזירה שוה
- QuestionCan a law learned by a קל וחומר teach through another קל וחומר?
- ResponseFirst proof from a גזירה שוה
- RejectionThe proof is a grandson of a קל וחומר
- ResponseSecond proof from a היקש
- QuestionCan a law learned by a קל וחומר teach through a בנין אב?
- Proofרבי ירמיה brings the משנה of a bird given מליקה and found to be a טריפה
- Proofרבי מאיר's קל וחומר: slaughter purifies a bird that is a טריפה
- Proofרבי מאיר begins a comparison based on slaughter