Chapter 1 · HaShutafin

A sage is greater than a prophet

Lesson 6 of 44 25 min

In a discussion of prophecy after the Destruction, Ameimar sets a special status for the sage.

Lesson goals

01Restate the source in your own words.
02Identify the central distinction and explain its significance.
03Apply the distinction in the exercise without adding a ruling absent from the source.

Source and decoding - Bava Batra 12a

Bava Batra 12a

וְחָכָם עָדִיף מִנָּבִיא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנָבִא לְבַב חׇכְמָה״ – מִי נִתְלֶה בְּמִי? הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: קָטָן נִתְלֶה בַּגָּדוֹל.

Ameimar said: a sage is greater than a prophet, as it says "a prophet has a heart of wisdom" - who is measured by whom? The lesser is measured by the greater.

Ameimar said: a sage is greater than a prophet, as it says "a prophet has a heart of wisdom" - who is measured by whom? The lesser is measured by the greater. The prophet is described by wisdom, so wisdom is primary.

Building the reasoning

1Restate the source in your own words.
2Identify the central distinction and explain its significance.
3Apply the distinction in the exercise without adding a ruling absent from the source.

Terms to decode

עדיף

preferable, greater

נתלה

is dependent on

הוי אומר

you must say

Before moving on

Insight

This lesson is a study framework, not a halachic ruling. Check everything in the sources, and bring practical questions to a rabbi.

Practice

Phrase "who depends on whom" as a logical rule.

Lesson wrap-up

Wisdom is built through study - and the Gemara places it at the center.

Check your understanding

Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.

Question 1 of 4

Who is greater per Ameimar?

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