Tahorot 4

הַזּוֹרֵק טֻמְאָה מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם, כִּכָּר לְבֵין הַמַּפְתְּחוֹת, מַפְתֵּחַ לְבֵין הַכִּכָּרוֹת, טָהוֹר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, כִּכָּר לְבֵין הַמַּפְתְּחוֹת, טָמֵא. מַפְתֵּחַ לְבֵין הַכִּכָּרוֹת, טָהוֹר:

One who throws an impurity from place to place, [such as] a [pure] loaf into [a collection of impure] keys, or a [impure] key into [an collection of pure] loaves, they are assumed to be pure. Rabbi Yehuda says: a loaf into [impure] keys is impure, but a key into [pure] loaves, [they are] pure.

הַשֶּׁרֶץ בְּפִי הַחֻלְדָּה וּמְהַלֶּכֶת עַל גַּבֵּי כִכָּרוֹת שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה, סָפֵק נָגַע סָפֵק לֹא נָגַע, סְפֵקוֹ טָהוֹר:

If there is a vermin in the mouth of a weasel and it is walking on loaves of <i>terumah</i>, and it is uncertain whether it touched them or not, its uncertainty is pure [i.e. the purity status of the loaves is uncertain, and therefore pure] .

הַשֶּׁרֶץ בְּפִי הַחֻלְדָּה, וְהַנְּבֵלָה בְּפִי הַכֶּלֶב, וְעָבְרוּ בֵין הַטְּהוֹרִים, אוֹ שֶׁעָבְרוּ טְהוֹרִים בֵּינֵיהֶן, סְפֵקָן טָהוֹר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין לַטֻּמְאָה מָקוֹם. הָיוּ מְנַקְּרִין בָּהֶן עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאָמַר, הָלַכְתִּי לַמָּקוֹם הַלָּז וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם נָגַעְתִּי אִם לֹא נָגַעְתִּי, סְפֵקוֹ טָמֵא, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לַטֻּמְאָה מָקוֹם:

If there is a vermin in the mouth of a weasel or an animal carcass in the mouth of a dog, and they passed among pure things, or pure things passed among them, their uncertainty is pure [i.e. their purity status is uncertain, and therefore pure], because the impurity has no [fixed] place. If they [the dog or weasel] were picking at them [the dead animals] on the ground, and someone says, "I went to that place, but I do not know if I touched [the vermin or the carcass] or I did not touch it, his uncertainly is impure [i.e. his purity status is uncertain, and therefore impure], because the impurity has a [fixed] place.

כַּזַּיִת מִן הַמֵּת בְּפִי הָעוֹרֵב, סָפֵק הֶאֱהִיל עַל הָאָדָם וְעַל הַכֵּלִים בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, סְפֵק אָדָם, טָמֵא, סְפֵק כֵּלִים, טָהוֹר. הַמְמַלֵּא בַעֲשָׂרָה דְלָיִים וְנִמְצָא שֶׁרֶץ בְּאַחַד מֵהֶן, הוּא טָמֵא וְכֻלָּן טְהוֹרִין. הַמְעָרֶה מִכְּלִי לִכְלִי וְנִמְצָא שֶׁרֶץ בַּתַּחְתּוֹן, הָעֶלְיוֹן טָהוֹר:

If there is an olive's volume of corpse in the mouth of a raven, and it is uncertain if it was in an enclosed space over a person or over vessels in a private domain [which would have rendered them impure], the person's uncertainly is impure [i.e. the purity status of the person is uncertain, and therefore impure]; the vessels' uncertainty is pure [i.e. their purity status is uncertain, and therefore pure]. If one is filling ten buckets [from a well] and a vermin is found in one of them, it [the bucket in which it was found] is impure, and they [the rest] are all pure. One who pours from one vessel to another and a vermin was found in the lower one, the upper one is pure.

עַל שִׁשָּׁה סְפֵקוֹת שׂוֹרְפִין אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה. עַל סְפֵק בֵּית הַפְּרָס, וְעַל סְפֵק עָפָר הַבָּא מֵאֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים, עַל סְפֵק בִּגְדֵי עַם הָאָרֶץ, עַל סְפֵק כֵּלִים הַנִּמְצָאִין, עַל סְפֵק הָרֻקִּין הַנִּמְצָאִין, עַל סְפֵק מֵי רַגְלֵי אָדָם שֶׁהֵן כְּנֶגֶד מֵי רַגְלֵי בְהֵמָה. עַל וַדַּאי מַגָּעָן שֶׁהוּא סְפֵק טֻמְאָתָן, שׂוֹרְפִין אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, אַף עַל סְפֵק מַגָּעָן בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, תּוֹלִין. וּבִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, טָהוֹר:

For six uncertainties [regarding purity status] <i>terumah</i> is burnt: for the uncertainty of a plowed graveyard, and for the uncertainty of dirt that came from the lands of the nations [i.e. outside Israel], for the uncertainty of the clothes of an unlearned person, and for the uncertainty of found vessels, for the uncertainty of found spittle, for the uncertainty of human urine that was found opposite the urine of an animal [thereby allowing it to be clearly identified as human urine]. In [cases where there is] a certainty that any of these touched [<i>terumah</i>], which is [therefore the cause of] an uncertainty regarding their impurity status, the <i>terumah</i> is burnt. Rabbi Yose says: in a private domain, [the <i>terumah</i> is burnt] even in [cases where there is] an uncertainty that they touched. But the Sages say: in a private domain, [when there is an uncertainty that they touched] we suspend [i.e. neither burn nor eat the <i>terumah</i>], but in a public domain it is pure.

שְׁנֵי רֻקִּין, אֶחָד טָמֵא וְאֶחָד טָהוֹר, תּוֹלִין עַל מַגָּעָן וְעַל מַשָּׂאָן וְעַל הֶסֵּטָן בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, וְעַל מַגָּעָן בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן לַחִין, וְעַל מַשָּׂאָן בֵּין לַחִין וּבֵין יְבֵשִׁין. הָיָה רֹק יְחִידִי וְנָגַע בּוֹ וּנְשָׂאוֹ וְהִסִּיטוֹ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, שׂוֹרְפִין עָלָיו אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד:

If there are two spittles, one which is impure [like any found spittle, as seen in the previous Mishna] and the other pure [where it is known to have come from a pure person], we suspend [and neither burn nor eat the <i>terumah</i>] for their touching, being carried, or being moved in a private domain [when there is this uncertainty as to whether it was the impure spittle or the pure]; and [the same rule applies also in cases of uncertainty regarding] their touching in a public domain when they are moist, and for their being carried when they are either moist or dry. If there was just one spittle and someone touched it, carried it, or moved it in the public domain, <i>terumah</i> [which he then came into contact with] is burnt on his account, and certainly if this happened in a private domain [it is also burnt].

אֵלּוּ סְפֵקוֹת שֶׁטִּהֲרוּ חֲכָמִים. סְפֵק מַיִם שְׁאוּבִים לַמִּקְוֶה. סְפֵק טֻמְאָה צָפָה עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם. סְפֵק מַשְׁקִין, לִטָּמֵא, טָמֵא, וּלְטַמֵּא, טָהוֹר. סְפֵק יָדַיִם, לִטָּמֵא וּלְטַמֵּא וְלִטַּהֵר, טָהוֹר. סְפֵק רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. סְפֵק דִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. סְפֵק הַחֻלִּין. סְפֵק שְׁרָצִים. סְפֵק נְגָעִים. סְפֵק נְזִירוּת. סְפֵק בְּכוֹרוֹת. וּסְפֵק קָרְבָּנוֹת:

The following uncertainties [regarding impurity status] were declared pure by the Sages: the uncertainty of drawn waters for a <i>mikvah</i> [a pool for ritual immersion which must contain natural, undrawn water; the uncertainty is a case in which it is uncertain whether a <i>mikvah</i> contains enough drawn water to invalidate it from being able to purify those that immerse it in]; the uncertainty of an impurity floating on the water's surface; the uncertainty of liquids regarding whether they themselves have become impure--such [liquids] are impure, and [the uncertainty] regarding whether they rendered [something else] impure--such [items] are pure; the uncertainty of hands regarding whether they themselves have become impure, or have rendered [something] impure, or have themselves become pure, [in all three cases] they are pure; the uncertainty of the public domain [i.e. an uncertainty regarding purity status which was generated when something was in the public domain]; the uncertainty regarding [the purity status of something that came into contact with something that is impure only according to] the words of the Scholars; the uncertainty [regarding the purity status] of non-sanctified foods; the uncertainty regarding [the purity status of something which may have been rendered impure by] vermin; the uncertainty of blights [i.e. regarding the purity status of someone or something that may have been rendered impure by someone impure due to an illness, such as <i>tsara'at</i>]; the uncertainty regarding [one's] status as a nazerite [i.e. like someone who took a vow to be a nazerite contingent on something which remains uncertain]; the uncertainty regarding [the status of] a first born; and the uncertainty regarding [one's obligation to bring] sacrifices.

סְפֵק טֻמְאָה צָפָה עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם, בֵּין בַּכֵּלִים בֵּין בַּקַּרְקַע. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, בַּכֵּלִים, טָמֵא. וּבַקַּרְקַע, טָהוֹר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, סְפֵק יְרִידָתוֹ, טָמֵא. וּסְפֵק עֲלִיָּתוֹ, טָהוֹר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, אֲפִלּוּ אֵין שָׁם אֶלָּא מְלֹא אָדָם וְטֻמְאָה, טָהוֹר:

The uncertainty of an impurity floating on the water's surface [where it is uncertain whether or not someone came into contact with the floating object: this was declared pure by the Sages] whether in a vessel or on the earth. Rabbi Shimon says: in a vessel it is impure [since it is in a fixed place], and on the earth it is pure. Rabbi Yehuda says: If the uncertainty was [one that arose] when he went down [into the water] he is impure, but if the uncertainty was when he was coming up [out of the water] he is pure. Rabbi Yose says: even if there is room [in the water] only for one person plus the impurity, he is [still] pure.

סְפֵק מַשְׁקִין לִטָּמֵא, טָמֵא. כֵּיצַד. טָמֵא שֶׁפָּשַׁט אֶת רַגְלוֹ לְבֵין מַשְׁקִין טְהוֹרִין, סָפֵק נָגַע סָפֵק לֹא נָגַע, סְפֵקוֹ טָמֵא. הָיְתָה כִכָּר טְמֵאָה בְּיָדוֹ וּזְרָקָהּ לְבֵין מַשְׁקִין טְהוֹרִין, סָפֵק נָגַע סָפֵק לֹא נָגַע, סְפֵקוֹ טָמֵא. וּלְטַמֵּא, טָהוֹר. כֵּיצַד. הָיְתָה מַקֵּל בְּיָדוֹ וּבְרֹאשָׁהּ מַשְׁקִין טְמֵאִין וּזְרָקָהּ לְבֵין כִּכָּרוֹת טְהוֹרִין, סָפֵק נָגַע סָפֵק לֹא נָגַע, סְפֵקוֹ טָהוֹר:

What is the case of the uncertainty of liquids regarding whether they themselves have become impure--and where such [liquids] are impure? If an impure person extended his foot amid pure liquids and it is uncertain if he touched them or not, its uncertainty is impure [i.e. the purity status of the waters is uncertain, and therefore impure]. If there was an impure loaf in his hand and he threw in among pure liquids and it is uncertain whether they touched or did not touch, its uncertainty is impure [i.e. the purity status of the waters is uncertain, and therefore impure]. And what is the case [of the uncertainty] regarding whether they [liquids] rendered [something else] impure--where such [items] are pure? If there was a stick in his hand on at its tip were impure liquids, and he threw it among pure loaves, and it is uncertain whether they touched or did not touch, its uncertainty is pure [i.e. the purity status of the loaves is uncertain, and therefore pure].

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, סְפֵק מַשְׁקִין, לְאֳכָלִים, טָמֵא, וּלְכֵלִים, טָהוֹר. כֵּיצַד. שְׁתֵּי חָבִיּוֹת, אַחַת טְמֵאָה וְאַחַת טְהוֹרָה, וְעָשָׂה עִסָּה מֵאַחַת מֵהֶן, סָפֵק מִן הַטְּמֵאָה עָשָׂה, סָפֵק מִן הַטְּהוֹרָה עָשָׂה, זֶה הוּא סְפֵק מַשְׁקִין לְאֳכָלִין טָמֵא וּלְכֵלִים טָהוֹר:

Rabbi Yose says: The uncertainty of [impure] liquids regarding [whether or not they came into contact with] foods is impure [i.e. the purity status of the loaves is uncertain and therefore impure], and regarding vessels it is pure [i.e. when it is uncertain whether or not the liquids came into contact with vessels, the vessels are pure]. How so? If there were two jugs [of water], one impure and the other pure, and someone made dough from [the water from] one of them, and it is uncertain if he made it from the impure one or made it from the pure one, this is the case of the uncertainty of [impure] liquids, regarding foods is impure and regarding vessels it is pure.

סְפֵק יָדַיִם לִטָּמֵא וּלְטַמֵּא וְלִטָּהֵר, טָהוֹר. סְפֵק רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, טָהוֹר. סְפֵק דִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, אָכַל אֳכָלִים טְמֵאִים, שָׁתָה מַשְׁקִים טְמֵאִים, בָּא רֹאשׁוֹ וְרֻבּוֹ בְמַיִם שְׁאוּבִין, אוֹ שֶׁנָּפְלוּ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְרֻבּוֹ שְׁלשָׁה לֻגִּין מַיִם שְׁאוּבִים, סְפֵקוֹ טָהוֹר. אֲבָל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא אַב הַטֻּמְאָה וְהוּא מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, סְפֵקוֹ טָמֵא:

The uncertainty of hands regarding whether they themselves have become impure, or have rendered [something] impure, or have become pure, [in all three cases] they are pure. The uncertainty of the public domain [i.e. any uncertainty regarding purity status which was generated when something was in the public domain], is pure. As for the uncertainty regarding [the purity status of something that came into contact with something impure only according to] the words of the Scholars: If [there is an uncertainty as to whether] one ate impure foods or drank impure liquids, or whether one's head and the majority of one's body came into drawn water, or whether three <i>login</i> of drawn water fell on one's head and a majority of one's body, [all of which are instances of someone whom the Sages decreed becomes impure on a rabbinic level,] in the case of uncertainty, he is pure. But for something which is an Origin of impurity according to the words of the Scholars [i.e. something that the Sages decreed should be treated as an Origin of impurity], in the case of uncertainty [if someone might have come into contact with it], he is impure.

סְפֵק הַחֻלִּין, זוֹ טָהֳרַת פְּרִישׁוּת. סְפֵק שְׁרָצִים, כִּשְׁעַת מְצִיאָתָן. סְפֵק נְגָעִים, בַּתְּחִלָּה טָהוֹר, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִזְקַק לַטֻּמְאָה. מִשֶּׁנִּזְקַק לַטֻּמְאָה, סְפֵקוֹ טָמֵא. סְפֵק נְזִירוּת, מֻתָּר. סְפֵק בְּכוֹרוֹת, אֶחָד בְּכוֹרֵי אָדָם וְאֶחָד בְּכוֹרֵי בְהֵמָה, בֵּין טְמֵאָה בֵּין טְהוֹרָה, שֶׁהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה:

The uncertainty [regarding the purity status] of non-sanctified foods, this is the purity of abstention [i.e. of those who are careful to eat in purity even non-sanctified foods; and such foods, when their status is uncertain, are pure]. The uncertainty regarding [something which may or may not have been rendered impure by] vermin, [its status is] in accordance with how they were found [i.e. if the item in question was not actually touching the vermin when it was found, it is assumed to be pure]. The uncertainty of blights [i.e. regarding the purity status of someone that may have been rendered impure by someone impure due to an illness, such as <i>tsara'at</i>], at the beginning he is pure until he is determined [by the priest] as impure; once he has been determined impure, his uncertainty [i.e. a case of someone or something which may or may not have been rendered impure by him] is impure. The uncertainty regarding [one's] status as a nazerite [i.e. if someone took a vow to be a nazerite contingent on something which remains uncertain], he is permitted [to do the things a nazerite is forbidden from doing, i.e. he is not a nazerite]. The uncertainty regarding [the status of] a first born, whether first born humans or first born animals, whether pure or impure [i.e. kosher or non-kosher], the burden of proof is upon the one [who wants] to remove [possessions] from his fellow [i.e. the priest who makes a claim on the first born must demonstrate that it is a first born before he can take it].

סְפֵק קָרְבָּנוֹת, הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלֶיהָ סְפֵק חָמֵשׁ לֵידוֹת וּסְפֵק חָמֵשׁ זִיבוֹת, מְבִיאָה קָרְבָּן אֶחָד, וְאוֹכֶלֶת בַּזְּבָחִים, וְאֵין הַשְּׁאָר עָלֶיהָ חוֹבָה:

The uncertainty regarding [one's obligation to bring] sacrifices, [for example]: a woman who has upon her five uncertain [obligations to bring the sacrifice brought after] births [i.e. if she miscarried and is uncertain whether it was a birth obligating her to bring a sacrifice], or five uncertain discharges [i.e. she is uncertain if they were discharges obligating her to bring a sacrifice]; she brings one sacrifice, and can then eat from the offering, and she does not have an obligation to bring the rest [of the sacrifices].