Mishnah Temurah 5:5-6

Sugya Map

• Issue: What verbal formulations (lashonos) are effective for temurah (substitution) versus chillul (desacralization)?
• Nafka Mina(s): Whether an animal becomes kodesh as a temurah, or if an existing hekdesh becomes chullin, and the corresponding monetary obligations.
• Primary Sources: Mishnah Temurah 5:5-6; Vayikra 27:10.

Text Snapshot

"הרי זו תחת זו, תמורת זו, חליפת זו הרי זו תמורה. זו מחוללת על זו אינה תמורה."^1

The Mishnah enumerates three lashonos that effect temurah ("תחת זו", "תמורת זו", "חליפת זו") and one ("מחוללת על זו") that does not effect temurah, but rather chillul if the hekdesh is ba'al mum. The precise verbal distinction is critical.

Readings

Rambam, Commentary on Mishnah Temurah 5:5

Rambam clarifies that "זו מחוללת על זו" applies to a ba'al mum hekdesh. This chillul is d'Oraita, even if the new chullin is of lesser value. However, one is d'Rabbanan obligated to make up the difference to the hekdesh treasury.^2

Mishnat Eretz Yisrael on Mishnah Temurah 5:5:1-9

This commentary highlights that the Mishnah, in enumerating these lashonos, preserves lashon bnei adam (common parlance) from the Beis HaMikdash era. It contrasts this with the Bavli's tendency to seek lexical meanings (lashon Torah), arguing the Mishnah records lived language, similar to Nedarim and Nazir usage.^3

Friction

The Yerushalmi (quoted in Mishnat Eretz Yisrael) presents Rebbi Hoshaya who opines that "חליפי זו" and "תחת זו" are not effective for temurah for kodshei Bedek HaBayit, and even for kodshei Mizbe'ach (in some readings). This seems to contradict the Mishnah's explicit ruling. The terutz, per Mishnat Eretz Yisrael, is that Rebbi Hoshaya is not arguing halachically but rather on the historical linguistic usage (lashon) prevalent in his time, suggesting the Mishnah's lashonos represent an older, preserved tradition from Beis HaMikdash times.^4

Intertext

The source for temurah is Vayikra 27:10: "לא יחליפנו ולא ימיר אֹתו טוב ברע או רע בטוב ואם המר ימיר בהמה בבהמה והיה הוא ותמורתו יהיה קֹדש." This verse uses "יחליפנו" and "ימיר", indicating scriptural roots for the Mishnah's terms "חליפת זו" and "תמורת זו." The Mishnah’s inclusion of "תחת זו" further suggests the flexibility of lashon bnei adam to establish halachic efficacy.^5

Psak/Practice

The halacha firmly distinguishes between temurah and chillul. The specific wording employed by an individual is paramount and determines the halachic outcome. This underscores the precision required in halachic declarations, even when rooted in colloquialisms.

Takeaway

The Mishnah functions as a historical linguistic record, demonstrating how Halacha validates and preserves specific everyday idioms from the Beis HaMikdash era.

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1. Mishnah Temurah 5:5.
2. Rambam, Commentary on Mishnah Temurah 5:5 s.v. הרי זו תחת זו.
3. Mishnat Eretz Yisrael on Mishnah Temurah 5:5:1-9.
4. Ibid., citing Yerushalmi Nazir 2:1.
5. Vayikra 27:10.