← Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
What does "well" mean in Babylonian Aramaic?
The Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud says "well" with שַׁפִּיר (shappīr). It is the word of approval in the study house. When one rabbi agrees with another, the Gemara says שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר (shappīr qāʾāmar), "he speaks well", that is, "he is right". When a student has acted correctly, his teacher tells him שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ (shappīr ʿăvadt), "you did well". Abaye says exactly this to Rav Yosef in Berakhot 25b, the passage you will read in Section F.
The English learner should notice four things at once.
First, שַׁפִּיר is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective it means "fine, good, beautiful": you met it in the last lesson, פַּלְגָּא ... שַׁפִּיר מִפַּלְגָּא, "the half ... is finer than the half". As an adverb it means "well, properly, rightly". English needs two words, good and well; Aramaic uses one, and the sentence shows which is meant.
Second, "well" in English often means "right". "You speak well" is not praise of the speaker's style. It means "what you say is correct". שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ (shappīr qāʾāmrat), "you speak well", is the Gemara's way of saying "you are right".
Third, שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי (shappīr dāmē) is a fixed phrase of the law. Word for word it is "it resembles well", with the verb דָּמֵי you met in lesson 59. In the Talmud it means "it is fine, it is permitted". It answers the question whether something may be done.
Fourth, שַׁפִּיר does not mean "in good health". English "well" also means "healthy": "Are you well?" שַׁפִּיר is not the word for this. It speaks instead of falling ill, חֲלַשׁ (ḥălash): רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא חֲלַשׁ, "Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba fell ill" (Berakhot 5b). This lesson teaches only the sense of manner: how a thing is done.
The word comes from the root שׁ-פ-ר, "to be fair, pleasing". Biblical Aramaic has the verb: שְׁפַר קֳדָם דָּרְיָוֶשׁ, "it pleased Darius" (Daniel 6:2). Biblical Hebrew has the noun שֶׁפֶר, "beauty": Naphtali gives אִמְרֵי שָׁפֶר (the same noun, in its pausal form), "goodly words" (Genesis 49:21). The form שַׁפִּיר, with a doubled middle letter and a long ī, is a common Aramaic adjective pattern, and the Talmud uses it for anything done as it should be.
In this lesson the romanisation follows a simple academic scheme: ʾ for א, ʿ for ע, ḥ for ח, ṭ for ט, ṣ for צ, q for ק, sh for שׁ, kh for soft כ, v for soft ב, f for soft פ; long vowels are marked with a macron (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū), and ə stands for the short vowel shewa.
- שַׁפִּיר (shappīr) = "well, properly, rightly"; also the adjective "fine, good, beautiful" - שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר (shappīr qāʾāmar) = "he speaks well", that is, "he is right" - שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ (shappīr qāʾāmrat) = "you are right" - שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ (shappīr ʿăvadt) = "you did well" - שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי (shappīr dāmē) = "it is fine, it is permitted" - שַׁפִּיר stands before the verb in the fixed phrases, and may follow it elsewhere: גָּרֵיס שַׁפִּיר, "he studies well" - "Better than" is שַׁפִּיר מִ- (shappīr mi-): Aramaic compares with מִן, "from" - For health the Talmud does not use שַׁפִּיר; "he fell ill" is חֲלַשׁ (ḥălash)
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The sentences of Sections A to C and of the Genre Section are written for this lesson; they are not quotations from the Talmud. The only quotation is in Section F.
61.1a שַׁפִּיר well קָאָמַר he-is-saying
61.1b shappīr (shap-PEER) well qāʾāmar (qaa-'aa-MAR) PROG-say-PTCP.M.SG
61.2a שַׁפִּיר well עֲבַדְתְּ you-did
61.2b shappīr (shap-PEER) well ʿăvadt (a-VADT) do-PERF.2M.SG
61.3a שַׁפִּיר well דָּמֵי it-resembles
61.3b shappīr (shap-PEER) well dāmē (daa-MAY) resemble-PTCP.M.SG
61.4a גָּרֵיס he-studies שַׁפִּיר well
61.4b gārēs (gaa-RAYS) study-PTCP.M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well
61.5a לָא not עֲבַד he-did שַׁפִּיר well
61.5b lā (laa) not ʿăvad (a-VAD) do-PERF.3M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well
61.6a אַבָּא father פָּלַח works שַׁפִּיר well בְּחַקְלָא in-the-field
61.6b ʾabbā (AB-baa) father-EMPH pālaḥ (paa-LAKH) work-PTCP.M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well bə-ḥaqlā (b'-khaq-LAA) in-field-M.SG.EMPH
61.7a שַׁפִּיר well קָאָמְרַתְּ you-are-saying רַבִּי my-master
61.7b shappīr (shap-PEER) well qāʾāmrat (qaa-'AAM-rat) PROG-say-PTCP.2M.SG rabbī (RAB-bee) master-my
61.8a תַּלְמִידָא the-student קָרֵי reads שַׁפִּיר well בְּסִפְרָא in-the-book
61.8b talmīdā (tal-mee-DAA) student-M.SG.EMPH qārē (qaa-RAY) read-PTCP.M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well bə-sifrā (b'-sif-RAA) in-book-M.SG.EMPH
61.9a אִי if עָבְדַתְּ you-do הָכִי thus שַׁפִּיר well דָּמֵי it-resembles
61.9b ʾī (EE) if ʿāvdat (AAV-dat) do-PTCP.2M.SG hākhī (HAA-khee) thus shappīr (shap-PEER) well dāmē (daa-MAY) resemble-PTCP.M.SG
61.10a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him אַבָּיֵי Abaye שַׁפִּיר well עֲבַדְתְּ you-did
61.10b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him ʾAbbayē (ab-BAI-yay) Abaye shappīr (shap-PEER) well ʿăvadt (a-VADT) do-PERF.2M.SG
61.11a הַשְׁתָּא now יָדְעִינַן we-know שַׁפִּיר well הֵיכִי how עָבֵיד he-does
61.11b hashtā (hash-TAA) now yādʿīnan (yaad-'EE-nan) know-PTCP.1PL shappīr (shap-PEER) well hēkhī (HAY-khee) how ʿāvēd (aa-VAYD) do-PTCP.M.SG
61.12a אֲגִירָא the-hired-man דְּפָלַח who-works שַׁפִּיר well שָׁקֵיל takes אַגְרָא the-wage כּוּלֵּיהּ all-of-it
61.12b ʾăgīrā (a-gee-RAA) hired-man-M.SG.EMPH də-fālaḥ (d'-faa-LAKH) who-work-PTCP.M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well shāqēl (shaa-QAYL) take-PTCP.M.SG ʾagrā (ag-RAA) wage-M.SG.EMPH kullēh (kul-LAYH) all-of-it-M
61.13a לָא not שָׁמַעְנָא I-hear שַׁפִּיר well מַאי what אֲמַרְתְּ you-said
61.13b lā (laa) not shāmaʿnā (shaa-MA'-naa) hear-PTCP.1SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well may (MAI) what ʾămart (a-MART) say-PERF.2M.SG
61.14a רַבָּה Rabbah אֲמַר said הָכִי thus וְאַבָּיֵי and-Abaye אֲמַר said שַׁפִּיר well קָאָמַר is-saying רַבָּה Rabbah
61.14b Rabbā (RAB-baa) Rabbah ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG hākhī (HAA-khee) thus wə-ʾAbbayē (v'-ab-BAI-yay) and-Abaye ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well qāʾāmar (qaa-'aa-MAR) PROG-say-PTCP.M.SG Rabbā (RAB-baa) Rabbah
61.15a שַׁפִּיר well מִכּוּלְּהוּ than-all-of-them גָּרֵיס studies הַאי this תַּלְמִידָא student
61.15b shappīr (shap-PEER) well mi-kkulləhū (mik-kul-l'-HOO) from-all-of-them-M gārēs (gaa-RAYS) study-PTCP.M.SG hāy (HAI) this-M talmīdā (tal-mee-DAA) student-M.SG.EMPH
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61.1 שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר. — shappīr qāʾāmar. — "He is right."
61.2 שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ. — shappīr ʿăvadt. — "You did well."
61.3 שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי. — shappīr dāmē. — "It is permitted."
61.4 גָּרֵיס שַׁפִּיר. — gārēs shappīr. — "He studies well."
61.5 לָא עֲבַד שַׁפִּיר. — lā ʿăvad shappīr. — "He did not do well."
61.6 אַבָּא פָּלַח שַׁפִּיר בְּחַקְלָא. — ʾabbā pālaḥ shappīr bə-ḥaqlā. — "Father works well in the field."
61.7 שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ, רַבִּי. — shappīr qāʾāmrat, rabbī. — "You are right, my master."
61.8 תַּלְמִידָא קָרֵי שַׁפִּיר בְּסִפְרָא. — talmīdā qārē shappīr bə-sifrā. — "The student reads well in the book."
61.9 אִי עָבְדַתְּ הָכִי, שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי. — ʾī ʿāvdat hākhī, shappīr dāmē. — "If you do so, it is permitted."
61.10 אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ. — ʾămar lēh ʾAbbayē: shappīr ʿăvadt. — "Abaye said to him: You did well."
61.11 הַשְׁתָּא יָדְעִינַן שַׁפִּיר הֵיכִי עָבֵיד. — hashtā yādʿīnan shappīr hēkhī ʿāvēd. — "Now we know well how he does it."
61.12 אֲגִירָא דְּפָלַח שַׁפִּיר שָׁקֵיל אַגְרָא כּוּלֵּיהּ. — ʾăgīrā də-fālaḥ shappīr shāqēl ʾagrā kullēh. — "The hired man who works well takes the whole wage."
61.13 לָא שָׁמַעְנָא שַׁפִּיר, מַאי אֲמַרְתְּ? — lā shāmaʿnā shappīr, may ʾămart? — "I do not hear well: what did you say?"
61.14 רַבָּה אֲמַר הָכִי, וְאַבָּיֵי אֲמַר: שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר רַבָּה. — Rabbā ʾămar hākhī, wə-ʾAbbayē ʾămar: shappīr qāʾāmar Rabbā. — "Rabbah said so, and Abaye said: Rabbah is right."
61.15 שַׁפִּיר מִכּוּלְּהוּ גָּרֵיס הַאי תַּלְמִידָא. — shappīr mi-kkulləhū gārēs hāy talmīdā. — "This student studies better than all of them."
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61.1 שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר.
61.2 שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ.
61.3 שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי.
61.4 גָּרֵיס שַׁפִּיר.
61.5 לָא עֲבַד שַׁפִּיר.
61.6 אַבָּא פָּלַח שַׁפִּיר בְּחַקְלָא.
61.7 שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ, רַבִּי.
61.8 תַּלְמִידָא קָרֵי שַׁפִּיר בְּסִפְרָא.
61.9 אִי עָבְדַתְּ הָכִי, שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי.
61.10 אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ.
61.11 הַשְׁתָּא יָדְעִינַן שַׁפִּיר הֵיכִי עָבֵיד.
61.12 אֲגִירָא דְּפָלַח שַׁפִּיר שָׁקֵיל אַגְרָא כּוּלֵּיהּ.
61.13 לָא שָׁמַעְנָא שַׁפִּיר, מַאי אֲמַרְתְּ?
61.14 רַבָּה אֲמַר הָכִי, וְאַבָּיֵי אֲמַר: שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר רַבָּה.
61.15 שַׁפִּיר מִכּוּלְּהוּ גָּרֵיס הַאי תַּלְמִידָא.
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1. One word, two jobs. שַׁפִּיר is an adjective, "fine, good", and an adverb, "well". As an adverb it never changes: the same form goes with "he", "you", "we" and "they".
- שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ (shappīr ʿăvadt), "you did well" (61.2) - גָּרֵיס שַׁפִּיר (gārēs shappīr), "he studies well" (61.4) - יָדְעִינַן שַׁפִּיר (yādʿīnan shappīr), "we know well" (61.11)
As an adjective it agrees with its noun. The masculine is שַׁפִּיר; the feminine adds -ā, שַׁפִּירָא (shappīrā), "fine, beautiful (f.)".
2. Where it stands. In the fixed phrases of the Gemara, שַׁפִּיר comes first and the verb follows: שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר, שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ, שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי. Placed first, it carries the weight of the sentence: "well is what you did". In plain description it may follow the verb, as English "well" does: אַבָּא פָּלַח שַׁפִּיר (61.6), תַּלְמִידָא קָרֵי שַׁפִּיר (61.8).
3. קָאָמַר and קָאָמְרַתְּ: the particle קָא. The particle קָא (qā) before a participle marks an action in progress, "is saying". It joins the next word in writing: קָא + אָמַר → קָאָמַר (qāʾāmar), "he is saying"; קָא + אָמְרַתְּ → קָאָמְרַתְּ (qāʾāmrat), "you are saying". In the phrase שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר the sense is not "he is speaking nicely" but "what he says is right".
4. שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי, "it is permitted". דָּמֵי is the participle "resembles, is like" (lesson 59). Together the two words mean "it is fine", and in a question of law, "it is permitted". A condition often comes first, with אִי (ʾī), "if": אִי עָבְדַתְּ הָכִי, שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי (61.9).
5. Negation. To say "not well", put לָא (lā) before the verb and leave שַׁפִּיר after it:
- לָא עֲבַד שַׁפִּיר (lā ʿăvad shappīr), "he did not do well" (61.5) - לָא שָׁמַעְנָא שַׁפִּיר (lā shāmaʿnā shappīr), "I do not hear well" (61.13) - לָא עֲבַדְתְּ שַׁפִּיר (lā ʿăvadt shappīr), "you did not do well" (61.18)
6. "Better than": שַׁפִּיר מִ-. Aramaic has no comparative form. As in the last lesson, it uses מִן (min), "from", shortened to מִ- with the next letter doubled:
- שַׁפִּיר מִכּוּלְּהוּ (shappīr mi-kkulləhū), "better than all of them" (61.15) - שַׁפִּיר מִפַּלְגָּא (shappīr mi-ppalgā), "finer than the half" (lesson 60)
7. Second person forms in this lesson. "You" appears in three tenses, all masculine singular:
- perfect: עֲבַדְתְּ (ʿăvadt), "you did"; אֲמַרְתְּ (ʾămart), "you said"; בְּנֵית (bənēt), "you built" - participle: עָבְדַתְּ (ʿāvdat), "you do"; קָאָמְרַתְּ (qāʾāmrat), "you are saying"
The perfect ends in -t after a consonant, and in -ēt in verbs whose root ends in a vowel, such as בְּנָא, "build". The participle has the long ā in its first syllable, as in יָדְעַתְּ and שָׁקְלַתְּ of the last lesson.
- Using שַׁפִּיר for health. "He is well" in the sense "he is healthy" is not שַׁפִּיר. This lesson does not teach a word for "healthy"; the Talmud tells of illness with חֲלַשׁ, "fell ill". - Translating שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר word for word. "He says well" is weak English. The sense is "he is right". - Translating שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי as "it resembles well". The sense is "it is fine, it is permitted". - Putting לָא before שַׁפִּיר. ✗ שַׁפִּיר לָא עֲבַד in the sense "he did not do well" → ✓ לָא עֲבַד שַׁפִּיר. The negative goes before the verb. - Inflecting the adverb. ✗ שַׁפִּירָא עֲבַדְתְּ → ✓ שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ. Only the adjective takes the feminine ending. - Confusing the forms of "you". עֲבַדְתְּ (ʿăvadt) is "you did"; עָבְדַתְּ (ʿāvdat) is "you do". Look at the first vowel.
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The Gemara records disagreement at length, and it records agreement in two words. When one sage hears another's argument and accepts it, the text says שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר, "he speaks well". A reader learns to watch for the phrase: it marks the point where an argument has been accepted and the discussion can go on to the next question.
Abaye, one of the great sages of Babylonia, grew up in the house of his uncle Rabbah and studied with Rav Yosef. In the passage of Section F the student praises the teacher: Rav Yosef has told how he once put a question to Rav Huna, and Abaye answers him שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ, "you did well". In the study house a student could judge a teacher's reasoning, and the Gemara keeps the judgement.
Much of the Talmud asks whether a thing may be done. Its answers are short: in Hebrew, אָסוּר (ʾāsūr), "forbidden", and מוּתָּר (muttār), "permitted"; in Aramaic, שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי, "it is fine". The phrase is mild in tone. It does not command the action; it says that nothing in the law stands against it.
The root שׁ-פ-ר joins two ideas that English keeps apart: the beautiful and the correct. In Biblical Hebrew שֶׁפֶר is "beauty"; in the Aramaic of Daniel the verb שְׁפַר means "to please"; in the Talmud שַׁפִּיר is the word for an act done properly and for an argument that holds. A sound argument, to the rabbis, was also a fine one.
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The Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 25b, text as in the William Davidson (Vilna-based, vocalised) edition on Sefaria. The Gemara is discussing the recitation of the Shema near a bed with something unclean beneath it, and asks when the space under a bed counts as separate from the floor. Rav Yosef reports that he once put the question to Rav Huna for a space of three to nine handbreadths, and closes with the words of F.1. Abaye's reply is F.2. The passage is chosen because it shows שַׁפִּיר in its commonest use, before the verb, in the phrase שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ, "you did well".
F.1a עֲשָׂרָה ten וַדַּאי certainly לָא not מִיבְּעֵי is-asked לִי to-me
F.1b ʿăsārā (a-saa-RAA) ten wadday (vad-DAI) certainly lā (laa) not mībbəʿē (mib-b'-'AY) be-asked-PTCP.M.SG lī (LEE) to-me
F.2a אָמַר said אַבָּיֵי Abaye שַׁפִּיר well עֲבַדְתְּ you-did דְּלָא that-not אִיבַּעְיָא it-was-asked לְךָ to-you כׇּל every עֲשָׂרָה ten רְשׁוּתָא domain אַחֲרִיתִי another הִיא it-is
F.2b ʾāmar (aa-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG ʾAbbayē (ab-BAI-yay) Abaye shappīr (shap-PEER) well ʿăvadt (a-VADT) do-PERF.2M.SG də-lā (d'-LAA) that-not ʾibbaʿyā (ib-ba'-YAA) be-asked-PERF.3F.SG ləkhā (l'-KHAA) to-you-M.SG kol (KOL) every ʿăsārā (a-saa-RAA) ten rəshūtā (r'-shoo-TAA) domain-F.SG.EMPH ʾaḥărītī (a-kha-REE-tee) other-F.SG hī (HEE) it-is-F
עֲשָׂרָה וַדַּאי לָא מִיבְּעֵי לִי.
Ten, certainly, I do not ask about.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ דְּלָא אִיבַּעְיָא לְךָ, כׇּל עֲשָׂרָה רְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרִיתִי הִיא.
Abaye said: You did well not to ask about it, for any space of ten handbreadths is a separate domain.
עֲשָׂרָה וַדַּאי לָא מִיבְּעֵי לִי.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ דְּלָא אִיבַּעְיָא לְךָ, כׇּל עֲשָׂרָה רְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרִיתִי הִיא.
- The argument. Rav Yosef had asked Rav Huna about spaces of three to nine handbreadths under a bed, and said that a space of ten was no question for him. Abaye approves: a space of ten handbreadths is a domain of its own, so there was nothing to ask. Rava then sums up the law in the lines that follow on the page. - שַׁפִּיר עֲבַדְתְּ. The adverb stands first and the verb follows, as in 61.2 and 61.10. The verb is the perfect, second person masculine singular, of עֲבַד, "do". English says "you were right"; the Aramaic says "you did well". - דְּלָא, "that not". The relative דְּ- (də-) joins a clause that explains what was done well: "well you did, that it was not a question for you". English turns it into an infinitive: "you did well not to ask". - מִיבְּעֵי and אִיבַּעְיָא. Both come from the root ב-ע-י, "seek, ask", the root of בָּעֵי, "want", in the last lesson. מִיבְּעֵי לִי is "it is asked to me", that is, "I ask"; אִיבַּעְיָא לְךָ is the past, "it was asked to you". The Talmud's word for a question of law, a בַּעְיָא, comes from the same root. - אָמַר with qamats. Here the vocalised edition prints אָמַר (ʾāmar) for "he said", where this course writes אֲמַר (ʾămar). Both pointings are found in printed texts of the Talmud; the consonants are the same. - כׇּל. The first vowel is a short o (qamats qatan), printed in this edition with its own sign: kol, "every, any". - רְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרִיתִי הִיא. "It is another domain." רְשׁוּתָא is feminine, so the adjective אַחֲרִיתִי, "other", and the pronoun הִיא, "she, it", are feminine too. - Abaye and Rav Yosef. Abaye was Rav Yosef's student. Here the student approves the teacher's reasoning, in the phrase a teacher would use to a student.
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A short story in the manner of the Gemara, written for this lesson. It is not a quotation from the Talmud.
61.16a הָהוּא a-certain גַּבְרָא man בְּנָא built אַשִּׁיתָא a-wall בְּחַד in-one יוֹמָא day
61.16b hahū (ha-HOO) that-M.SG gavrā (gav-RAA) man-M.SG.EMPH bənā (b'-NAA) build-PERF.3M.SG ʾashshītā (ash-shee-TAA) wall-F.SG.EMPH bə-ḥad (b'-KHAD) in-one-M yōmā (YOH-maa) day-M.SG.EMPH
61.17a לָא not בְּנָא he-built שַׁפִּיר well וּלְמָחָר and-the-next-day נְפַלַת fell אַשִּׁיתָא the-wall
61.17b lā (laa) not bənā (b'-NAA) build-PERF.3M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well u-lə-māḥār (oo-l'-maa-KHAAR) and-tomorrow nəfalat (n'-fa-LAT) fall-PERF.3F.SG ʾashshītā (ash-shee-TAA) wall-F.SG.EMPH
61.18a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him סָבָא an-old-man לָא not עֲבַדְתְּ you-did שַׁפִּיר well
61.18b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him sāvā (saa-VAA) old-man-M.SG.EMPH lā (laa) not ʿăvadt (a-VADT) do-PERF.2M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well
61.19a אֲמַר said גַּבְרָא the-man הֵיכִי how אֶעְבֵּיד I-shall-do שַׁפִּיר well
61.19b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG gavrā (gav-RAA) man-M.SG.EMPH hēkhī (HAY-khee) how ʾeʿbēd (e'-BAYD) do-IMPF.1SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well
61.20a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him סָבָא the-old-man חֲזֵי see הֵיכִי how בָּנֵינָא I-build
61.20b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him sāvā (saa-VAA) old-man-M.SG.EMPH ḥăzē (kha-ZAY) see-IMP.M.SG hēkhī (HAY-khee) how bānēnā (baa-NAY-naa) build-PTCP.1SG
61.21a בְּנָא built סָבָא the-old-man אַשִּׁיתָא a-wall תְּלָתָא three יוֹמֵי days
61.21b bənā (b'-NAA) build-PERF.3M.SG sāvā (saa-VAA) old-man-M.SG.EMPH ʾashshītā (ash-shee-TAA) wall-F.SG.EMPH tlātā (t'-laa-TAA) three yōmē (yoh-MAY) days-M.PL
61.22a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him גַּבְרָא the-man אַמַּאי why לָא not בְּנֵית you-built בְּחַד in-one יוֹמָא day
61.22b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him gavrā (gav-RAA) man-M.SG.EMPH ʾammay (am-MAI) why lā (laa) not bənēt (b'-NAYT) build-PERF.2M.SG bə-ḥad (b'-KHAD) in-one-M yōmā (YOH-maa) day-M.SG.EMPH
61.23a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him סָבָא the-old-man לָא not בָּנֵינָא I-build לְחַד for-one יוֹמָא day אֶלָּא but לִשְׁנֵי for-years טוּבָא many
61.23b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him sāvā (saa-VAA) old-man-M.SG.EMPH lā (laa) not bānēnā (baa-NAY-naa) build-PTCP.1SG lə-ḥad (l'-KHAD) for-one-M yōmā (YOH-maa) day-M.SG.EMPH ʾellā (EL-laa) but li-shnē (lish-NAY) for-years-F.PL ṭūvā (TOO-vaa) much
61.24a אָתָא came מִטְרָא rain טוּבָא much וְאַשִּׁיתָא and-the-wall דְּסָבָא of-the-old-man לָא not נְפַלַת fell
61.24b ʾātā (aa-TAA) come-PERF.3M.SG miṭrā (mit-RAA) rain-M.SG.EMPH ṭūvā (TOO-vaa) much wə-ʾashshītā (v'-ash-shee-TAA) and-wall-F.SG.EMPH də-sāvā (d'-saa-VAA) of-old-man-M.SG.EMPH lā (laa) not nəfalat (n'-fa-LAT) fall-PERF.3F.SG
61.25a אֲמַר said גַּבְרָא the-man שַׁפִּיר well בְּנֵית you-built
61.25b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG gavrā (gav-RAA) man-M.SG.EMPH shappīr (shap-PEER) well bənēt (b'-NAYT) build-PERF.2M.SG
61.26a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him סָבָא the-old-man שַׁפִּיר well קָאָמְרַתְּ you-are-saying
61.26b ʾămar (a-MAR) said-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him sāvā (saa-VAA) old-man-M.SG.EMPH shappīr (shap-PEER) well qāʾāmrat (qaa-'AAM-rat) PROG-say-PTCP.2M.SG
61.27a מַאן whoever דְּעָבֵיד that-does שַׁפִּיר well לָא not עָבֵיד does תְּרֵי two זִימְנֵי times
61.27b man (MAN) whoever də-ʿāvēd (d'-aa-VAYD) that-do-PTCP.M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well lā (laa) not ʿāvēd (aa-VAYD) do-PTCP.M.SG trē (TRAY) two-M zimnē (zim-NAY) times-M.PL
61.28a לְמָחָר the-next-day בְּנָא built גַּבְרָא the-man אַשִּׁיתָא a-wall חַדְתָּא new כְּסָבָא like-the-old-man
61.28b lə-māḥār (l'-maa-KHAAR) tomorrow bənā (b'-NAA) build-PERF.3M.SG gavrā (gav-RAA) man-M.SG.EMPH ʾashshītā (ash-shee-TAA) wall-F.SG.EMPH ḥadtā (khad-TAA) new-F.SG.EMPH kə-sāvā (k'-saa-VAA) like-old-man-M.SG.EMPH
61.29a וְכׇל and-every יוֹמָא day חֲזָא saw סָבָא the-old-man וַאֲמַר and-said שַׁפִּיר well שַׁפִּיר well
61.29b wə-khol (v'-KHOL) and-every yōmā (YOH-maa) day-M.SG.EMPH ḥăzā (kha-ZAA) see-PERF.3M.SG sāvā (saa-VAA) old-man-M.SG.EMPH wa-ʾămar (va-a-MAR) and-say-PERF.3M.SG shappīr (shap-PEER) well shappīr (shap-PEER) well
61.30a וְהַהִיא and-that אַשִּׁיתָא wall קַיְימָא stands עַד until הָאִידָּנָא now
61.30b wə-hahī (v'-ha-HEE) and-that-F.SG ʾashshītā (ash-shee-TAA) wall-F.SG.EMPH qaymā (QAI-maa) stand-PTCP.F.SG ʿad (AD) until hāʾiddānā (haa-id-DAA-naa) now
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61.16 הָהוּא גַּבְרָא בְּנָא אַשִּׁיתָא בְּחַד יוֹמָא. — hahū gavrā bənā ʾashshītā bə-ḥad yōmā. — "A certain man built a wall in one day."
61.17 לָא בְּנָא שַׁפִּיר, וּלְמָחָר נְפַלַת אַשִּׁיתָא. — lā bənā shappīr, u-lə-māḥār nəfalat ʾashshītā. — "He did not build it well, and the next day the wall fell down."
61.18 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: לָא עֲבַדְתְּ שַׁפִּיר. — ʾămar lēh sāvā: lā ʿăvadt shappīr. — "An old man said to him: You did not do it well."
61.19 אֲמַר גַּבְרָא: הֵיכִי אֶעְבֵּיד שַׁפִּיר? — ʾămar gavrā: hēkhī ʾeʿbēd shappīr? — "The man said: How shall I do it well?"
61.20 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: חֲזֵי הֵיכִי בָּנֵינָא. — ʾămar lēh sāvā: ḥăzē hēkhī bānēnā. — "The old man said to him: Watch how I build."
61.21 בְּנָא סָבָא אַשִּׁיתָא תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי. — bənā sāvā ʾashshītā tlātā yōmē. — "The old man built a wall for three days."
61.22 אֲמַר לֵיהּ גַּבְרָא: אַמַּאי לָא בְּנֵית בְּחַד יוֹמָא? — ʾămar lēh gavrā: ʾammay lā bənēt bə-ḥad yōmā? — "The man said to him: Why did you not build it in one day?"
61.23 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: לָא בָּנֵינָא לְחַד יוֹמָא, אֶלָּא לִשְׁנֵי טוּבָא. — ʾămar lēh sāvā: lā bānēnā lə-ḥad yōmā, ʾellā li-shnē ṭūvā. — "The old man said to him: I do not build for one day, but for many years."
61.24 אָתָא מִטְרָא טוּבָא, וְאַשִּׁיתָא דְּסָבָא לָא נְפַלַת. — ʾātā miṭrā ṭūvā, wə-ʾashshītā də-sāvā lā nəfalat. — "Heavy rain came, and the old man's wall did not fall."
61.25 אֲמַר גַּבְרָא: שַׁפִּיר בְּנֵית. — ʾămar gavrā: shappīr bənēt. — "The man said: You built well."
61.26 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ. — ʾămar lēh sāvā: shappīr qāʾāmrat. — "The old man said to him: You are right."
61.27 מַאן דְּעָבֵיד שַׁפִּיר, לָא עָבֵיד תְּרֵי זִימְנֵי. — man də-ʿāvēd shappīr, lā ʿāvēd trē zimnē. — "Whoever does a thing well does not do it twice."
61.28 לְמָחָר בְּנָא גַּבְרָא אַשִּׁיתָא חַדְתָּא כְּסָבָא. — lə-māḥār bənā gavrā ʾashshītā ḥadtā kə-sāvā. — "The next day the man built a new wall, as the old man had."
61.29 וְכׇל יוֹמָא חֲזָא סָבָא, וַאֲמַר: שַׁפִּיר, שַׁפִּיר. — wə-khol yōmā ḥăzā sāvā, wa-ʾămar: shappīr, shappīr. — "And every day the old man looked, and said: Good, good."
61.30 וְהַהִיא אַשִּׁיתָא קַיְימָא עַד הָאִידָּנָא. — wə-hahī ʾashshītā qaymā ʿad hāʾiddānā. — "And that wall is standing to this day."
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61.16 הָהוּא גַּבְרָא בְּנָא אַשִּׁיתָא בְּחַד יוֹמָא.
61.17 לָא בְּנָא שַׁפִּיר, וּלְמָחָר נְפַלַת אַשִּׁיתָא.
61.18 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: לָא עֲבַדְתְּ שַׁפִּיר.
61.19 אֲמַר גַּבְרָא: הֵיכִי אֶעְבֵּיד שַׁפִּיר?
61.20 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: חֲזֵי הֵיכִי בָּנֵינָא.
61.21 בְּנָא סָבָא אַשִּׁיתָא תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי.
61.22 אֲמַר לֵיהּ גַּבְרָא: אַמַּאי לָא בְּנֵית בְּחַד יוֹמָא?
61.23 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: לָא בָּנֵינָא לְחַד יוֹמָא, אֶלָּא לִשְׁנֵי טוּבָא.
61.24 אָתָא מִטְרָא טוּבָא, וְאַשִּׁיתָא דְּסָבָא לָא נְפַלַת.
61.25 אֲמַר גַּבְרָא: שַׁפִּיר בְּנֵית.
61.26 אֲמַר לֵיהּ סָבָא: שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ.
61.27 מַאן דְּעָבֵיד שַׁפִּיר, לָא עָבֵיד תְּרֵי זִימְנֵי.
61.28 לְמָחָר בְּנָא גַּבְרָא אַשִּׁיתָא חַדְתָּא כְּסָבָא.
61.29 וְכׇל יוֹמָא חֲזָא סָבָא, וַאֲמַר: שַׁפִּיר, שַׁפִּיר.
61.30 וְהַהִיא אַשִּׁיתָא קַיְימָא עַד הָאִידָּנָא.
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- שַׁפִּיר before and after the verb. In the narrator's sentence 61.17 and in the old man's rebuke 61.18, the adverb follows the verb: לָא בְּנָא שַׁפִּיר, לָא עֲבַדְתְּ שַׁפִּיר. In the praise of 61.25 and the reply of 61.26 it comes first, as in the Gemara's fixed phrases: שַׁפִּיר בְּנֵית, שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרַתְּ. - שַׁפִּיר on its own. In 61.29 the old man says only שַׁפִּיר, שַׁפִּיר: "good, good". Alone, the word is an exclamation of approval. - The verb בְּנָא, "build". Its root ends in a vowel. The perfect is בְּנָא (bənā), "he built" (61.16, 61.21, 61.28); "you built" is בְּנֵית (bənēt) (61.22, 61.25). The participle with "I" is בָּנֵינָא (bānēnā), "I build" (61.20, 61.23). - A feminine noun and its verb. אַשִּׁיתָא, "wall", is feminine. Its verb takes the feminine ending: נְפַלַת (nəfalat), "it fell" (61.17, 61.24), and קַיְימָא (qaymā), "it stands" (61.30). The demonstrative is feminine as well: הַהִיא, "that" (61.30), beside the masculine הָהוּא of 61.16. - The imperfect "I". אֶעְבֵּיד (61.19), "shall I do", has the prefix אֶ- that you met in the Targum in lesson 59. With הֵיכִי it asks for a method: "how shall I do it well?" - Numbers and nouns. תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי (61.21), "three days", and תְּרֵי זִימְנֵי (61.27), "two times, twice". The count stands before the noun, as in lesson 58. - טוּבָא, "much, many". It follows its noun: מִטְרָא טוּבָא, "much rain" (61.24), שְׁנֵי טוּבָא, "many years" (61.23). - A proverb. 61.27 is built like the proverbs of lessons 59 and 60: מַאן דְּ-, "whoever", with a participle, then a second participle for the general truth.
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- IPA: /ʃapˈpiːr/ - שַׁ (shin with patah) = sha, as in English shut. - פִּ (pe with dagesh) = a plain p. The dagesh here also doubles the letter, so the p is held: shap-PEER. - י (yod) after the hiriq is only a vowel letter: a long ee. - Stress falls on the last syllable: shap-PEER.
- IPA: /qaːʔaːˈmar/ - The א between the two long aa sounds is a light catch in the throat, or is not heard at all: qaa-'aa-MAR.
- IPA: /ʕaˈvadt/ - The word ends in two consonants, d and t. Say both: a-VADT.
- IPA: /ʔaʃʃiːˈtaː/ - The shin is doubled: hold the sh sound: ash-shee-TAA.
- ח (ḥet) in חַקְלָא, חַד, חֲזֵי, חַדְתָּא, לְמָחָר: a rasping sound in the throat, like the ch of Scottish loch. Written kh in the respellings. - ע (ʿayin) in עֲבַדְתְּ, עָבֵיד, שָׁמַעְנָא, יָדְעִינַן: a voiced sound in the throat, in most modern readings silent or a slight catch. Written ' in the respellings. - ק (qof) in קָאָמַר, קָרֵי, שָׁקֵיל, קַיְימָא: originally a k made further back in the throat; most readers today say a plain k. - ט (ṭet) in מִטְרָא, טוּבָא: originally an emphatic t; most readers today say a plain t.
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)