Commentary for Terumot 3:8
הַמִּתְכַּוֵּן לוֹמַר תְּרוּמָה וְאָמַר מַעֲשֵׂר, מַעֲשֵׂר וְאָמַר תְּרוּמָה, עוֹלָה וְאָמַר שְׁלָמִים, שְׁלָמִים וְאָמַר עוֹלָה, שֶׁאֵינִי נִכְנָס לְבַיִת זֶה וְאָמַר לָזֶה, שֶׁאֵינִי נֶהֱנֶה לָזֶה וְאָמַר לָזֶה, לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ פִיו וְלִבּוֹ שָׁוִין:
He who intends to say ‘<i>Terumah</i>’ and says ‘tithe’, [or] ‘tithe’ and says ‘<i>Terumah</i>’ [or who intends to say] ‘<i>Olah</i>’ [burnt-offering] and he says ‘<i>Shelamim</i>’ [burnt offering, or] ‘<i>Shelamim</i>’ and he says ‘<i>Olah</i>’ [or who intends to vow that] ‘I will not enter this house,’ and says, ‘that house,’ [or] ‘That I will not give any benefit to this [man],’ and says ‘to that [man],’ he has said nothing until his mouth and mind are equivalent.
Bartenura on Mishnah Terumot
עד שיהיו פיו ולבו שוין – as it is written (Deuteronomy 23:24): “You must fulfill what has crossed your lips [and perform what you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, having made the promise with your own mouth],” and it is written (Exodus 35:22 – the printed text listed Chapter 34, an error): [“Men and women] whose hearts moved them, [all who would gladly make an elevation of gold to the LORD],” How now? We require that he resolved in his heart and enunciating [the same thought] with his lips.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Terumot
He who intends saying ‘terumah’ and says ‘tithe’, or ‘tithe’ and says ‘terumah’;
‘Burnt-offering’ and he says ‘peace-offering’, or ‘peace-offering’ and he says ‘burnt-offering’;
‘[I vow] that I will not enter this house,’ and says ‘that house’,
‘That I will not derive any benefit from this [man],’ and says ‘from that [man],’ he has said nothing until his heart and mind are at one.
This mishnah deals with a person who intends to say one thing but instead says another. Is there any validity to either his words or to his intent?
This mishnah seems to be quite understandable, so I will keep it brief.
In order for the person’s statement to have any validity, he must actually say what he intends to say. Therefore, if he intended to say that something would be terumah and he instead said that it would be tithe, that which he separated is neither tithe nor terumah. The same is true for all of the other examples in the mishnah.
‘Burnt-offering’ and he says ‘peace-offering’, or ‘peace-offering’ and he says ‘burnt-offering’;
‘[I vow] that I will not enter this house,’ and says ‘that house’,
‘That I will not derive any benefit from this [man],’ and says ‘from that [man],’ he has said nothing until his heart and mind are at one.
This mishnah deals with a person who intends to say one thing but instead says another. Is there any validity to either his words or to his intent?
This mishnah seems to be quite understandable, so I will keep it brief.
In order for the person’s statement to have any validity, he must actually say what he intends to say. Therefore, if he intended to say that something would be terumah and he instead said that it would be tithe, that which he separated is neither tithe nor terumah. The same is true for all of the other examples in the mishnah.
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