Nedarim 2:4-5
Nedarim 2:4
Generic vows are more stringent but their interpretations are more lenient. For example, if one said, “this will be to me like salted meat” or “like libation wine,” if he is referring to the Temple, they are prohibited and if he is referring to idolatry, they are permitted. If it is unspecified, it is prohibited. If he says, “It is to me like cheirem (a prohibited item),” if he means something consecrated, it is prohibited and if he means something restricted to kohanim, it is permitted. If it is unspecified, it is prohibited. If he said, “It is to me like tithes,” if he means animal tithes, it is prohibited and if he means tithes from the granary, it is permitted. If it is unspecified, it is prohibited. If he said, “It is to me like terumah,” if he means terumah of the Temple, it is prohibited and if he means terumah from the granary, it is permitted. If it is unspecified, it is prohibited; this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says that unspecified terumah is prohibited in Judah and permitted in the Galilee because residents of the Galilee don’t have terumah of the Temple as frame of reference. Unspecified cheirem is permitted in Judah and prohibited in the Galilee because residents of the Galilee don’t have cheirem of kohanim as frame of reference.
Nedarim 2:5
If a person vowed by cheirem and later said that he meant a fishing net (which is the same word), or he vowed by a korban (sacrifice) and later said that he meant a gift given to kings (again, the same word), or he vowed saying, “I myself a korban” (atzmi korban) and he later said he was referring to a bone he put aside to vow upon (“atzmi” also meaning “my bone”), or if he said “konam that my wife benefit from me” and he later said that he meant his first wife, whom he divorced – in all of these cases, we take him at his word and an authority need not be consulted to release him from his vow. If he does consult an authority seeking release, he is penalized in that we rule stringently; this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. The Sages say that he is given the opportunity to void the vow for another reason and they are chastised not to treat vows so lightly in the future.