Study Sotah folio 22A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
שקרא ושנה ולא שימש תלמידי חכמים.
is one who read the Written Torah and learned the Mishnah but did not serve Torah scholars in order to learn the reasoning behind the halakhot. Since he believes himself knowledgeable, he issues halakhic rulings, but due to his lack of understanding he rules erroneously and is therefore considered wicked. His cunning is in his public display of knowledge, which misleads others into considering him a true Torah scholar.
אתמר: קרא ושנה ולא שימש תלמידי חכמים, רבי אלעזר אומר: הרי זה עם הארץ. רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר: הרי זה בור. רבי ינאי אומר: הרי זה כותי.
It was stated: With regard to one who read the Written Torah and learned the Mishnah but did not serve Torah scholars, R' Elazar says: This person is an am ha'aretz. R' Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: This person is a boor. R' Yannai says: This person is comparable to a Samaritan, who follows the Written Torah but not the traditions of the rabbis.
רב אחא בר יעקב אומר: הרי זה מגוש. אמר רב נחמן בר יצחק: מסתברא כרב אחא בר יעקב, דאמרי אינשי: רטין מגושא ולא ידע מאי אמר, תני תנא ולא ידע מאי אמר.
Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov says: This person is comparable to a sorcerer [magosh], who uses his knowledge to mislead people. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: It is reasonable to accept the opinion of Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov, as people say proverbially: The sorcerer chants and does not know what he is saying; so too, the tanna teaches the Mishnah and does not know what he is saying.
תנו רבנן: איזהו עם הארץ? כל שאינו קורא קריאת שמע שחרית וערבית בברכותיה, דברי רבי מאיר. וחכמים אומרים: כל שאינו מניח תפילין. בן עזאי אומר: כל שאין לו ציצית בבגדו. רבי יונתן בן יוסף אמר: כל שיש לו בנים ואינו מגדלן ללמוד תורה. אחרים אומרים: אפילו קורא ושונה ולא שימש תלמידי חכמים — זהו עם הארץ.
§ A baraita states: Who is an am ha'aretz [am ha’aretz]? It is anyone who does not recite Shema in the morning and evening with its blessings; this is the statement of R' Meir. And the Rabbis say: It is anyone who does not don tefillin. Ben Azzai says: It is anyone who does not have tzitzit on his garment. R' Yonatan ben Yosef said: It is anyone who has sons and does not raise them to study Torah. Aḥerim say: Even if one reads the Written Torah and learns the Mishnah but does not serve Torah scholars, he is an am ha'aretz.
Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.