Commentary for Shabbat 17:2

קורנס – hammer

Introduction Our mishnah teaches that one may carry a vessel that is normally used to perform prohibited labor provided that the intent is to use it for something permitted on Shabbat.

הדבלה – for after it was made round, it is thick and hard and requires a hatchet to cut it.

A man may take a hammer to split nuts, an axe to cut a cake of pressed figs, a saw for sawing cheese, a rake to scoop up dried figs, a winnowing shovel and a pitchfork to place [food] upon it for a child, a reed or a shuttle to stick [food], a small needle to remove a thorn, and a sack [needle] to open a door. There are several types of utensils mentioned in this mishnah: a hammer, an axe, a saw, a rake, a shovel or pitchfork, a reed or shuttle (both used in sewing), a needle and a sack needle. All of these things are normally used to perform forbidden labors. However, this mishnah teaches that a person may use them for permitted labors on Shabbat. In all of these cases, the vessel listed is not the one normally used for such a labor. Nevertheless, since the vessel can be used for said purpose, it is permitted. For instance, if a person lost the key to a door, she may use a needle to try to pick a lock.

מגרה – a kind of long life which has many notches.

לגרר בו את הגבינה – to cut it and divide it into pieces through its notches, he quickly cuts the thick thing.

מגריפה – to grab with it the dried figs from the barrel.

רחת – a board that has a handle and two walls and they winnow the wheat with it.

ומזלג – a utensil that has three teeth and they turn over the straw in the granary.

פלך – a spindle that the women spins with.

כרכר – wood of weavers and it is similar to the needle of sack-makers.

לתחוב בו – to consume with it mulberries and all kinds of sft fruit.

מחט של יד – a small needle used to sew clothing with it.

ליטול בו את הקוץ – that entered into his skin, it is permitted to take it [out] on the Sabbath just like it is permissible to penetrate an abscess to remove its moistness, as long as he doesn’t intend to make of it a mouth.

ושל סקאים – a large needle that they sew sacks with.

לפתוח בו את הדלת – for whomever has lost his key.