Avodah Zarah 43A

הני ⁠— אין, צורת דרקון ⁠— לא!

The rabbis interpret this verse as referring to the heavenly constellations, which indicates that it is prohibited to form only these figures, but it is not prohibited to form a figure of a dragon.

אלא פשיטא במוצא, וכדתנן: המוצא כלים ועליהם צורת חמה.

Rather, the Talmud concludes, it is obvious that this halakha is referring to a case where one finds a vessel with the figure of a dragon, and this is as we learned in the Mishnah: In the case of one who finds vessels, and upon them is a figure of the sun, a figure of the moon, or a figure of a dragon, he must take them and cast them into the Dead Sea.

רישא וסיפא במוצא, ומציעתא בעושה?

The Talmud asks about the lack of consistency between the clauses of Rav Sheshet’s statement: Can it be that the first clause and the last clause are referring to a case where one finds vessels with the specified figures, and the middle clause is referring to a case where one forms these figures?

אמר אביי: אין, רישא וסיפא במוצא, ומציעתא בעושה.

Abaye said: Indeed, the first clause and the last clause are referring to cases where one finds vessels with figures, and the middle clause is referring to a case where one forms figures.

רבא אמר: כולה במוצא, ומציעתא רבי יהודה היא. דתניא: רבי יהודה מוסיף אף דמות מניקה וסר אפיס. מניקה ⁠— על שם חוה שמניקה כל העולם כולו, סר אפיס ⁠— על שם יוסף שסר ומפיס את כל העולם כולו. והוא דנקיט גריוא וקא כייל, והיא דנקטא בן וקא מניקה.

Rava said: The entire statement of Rav Sheshet is referring to a case where one finds vessels with these figures, and the middle clause is in accordance with the opinion of R' Yehuda. As it is taught in a baraita that R' Yehuda adds to the list of forbidden figures even a figure of a nursing woman and Sar Apis. The figure of a nursing woman is worshipped as it symbolizes Eve, who nurses the entire world. The figure of Sar Apis is worshipped as it symbolizes Joseph, who ruled over [sar] and appeased [mefis] the entire world by distributing food during the 7 years of famine (see Genesis, chapter 41). But the figure of Sar Apis is forbidden only when it is holding a dry measure and measuring with it; and the figure of a nursing woman is forbidden only when she is holding a child and nursing it.