Study Temurah folio 4A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
לא מצית אמרת, דכתיב ״לא תקלל חרש״, ואי אמרת בשלמא לקלל את חבירו — אזהרתיה מהכא דכתיב ״לא תקלל חרש״, אלא אי אמרת מוציא שם שמים לבטלה — אזהרתיה מהיכא?
The Talmud responds: You cannot say that Deuteronomy 28:59 is referring to one who pronounces the name of Heaven in vain, as it is written: “You should not curse the deaf” (Leviticus 19:14), which prohibits all curses, even those using God’s name. Granted, if you say that Deuteronomy 28:59 is referring to cursing another, one can say that the separate warning of punishment for this prohibition is from here, as it is written: “You should not curse the deaf.” One verse articulates the prohibition, and the other indicates liability for punishment. But if you say that Deuteronomy 28:59 is referring to pronouncing the name of Heaven in vain, from where is the warning of this prohibition? A prohibition requires two verses to include liability for punishment.
The Talmud counters: Why not, i.e., what is the difficulty? But isn’t it written: “You should fear YHWH your God, and Him you should serve” (Deuteronomy 6:13)? Fearing God certainly includes not pronouncing His name in vain, and this verse can therefore serve as the warning. The Talmud answers: That verse is a warning stated as a positive mitzva. In order to qualify as a warning, the verse must prohibit, not command.
משום רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא אמרו: אף המקדים תרומה לביכורים. מאי טעמא דרבי יוסי ברבי חנינא? אמר קרא: ״מלאתך ודמעך לא תאחר״ — ״מלאה״ אלו ביכורים, ״ודמעך״ אלו תרומה, ואמרת ״לא תאחר״.
§ It was stated (3a): They said in the name of R' Yosei, son of R' Ḥanina: Also one who separates teruma prior to the separation of the first fruits is liable to be flogged. The Talmud explains: What is the reason for the prohibition mentioned by R' Yosei, son of R' Ḥanina? The verse states: “You should not delay to offer of the fullness of your harvest and the outflow of your presses” (Exodus 22:28). When the verse states: The fullness of the harvest, these are the first fruits; and when the verse states: “And the outflow of your presses,” this is teruma. And the verse says: “You should not delay,” i.e., do not delay the separation of the first fruits by separating teruma beforehand.