Mitzvah —
216
For oaths and vows annulled, there are the laws of annulling vows explicit in the Torah
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אִישׁ֩ כִּֽי־יִדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֽוֹ־הִשָּׁ֤בַע שְׁבֻעָה֙ לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ עַל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ כְּכׇל־הַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ וְאִשָּׁ֕ה כִּֽי־תִדֹּ֥ר נֶ֖דֶר לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְאָסְרָ֥ה אִסָּ֛ר בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִ֖יהָ בִּנְעֻרֶֽיהָ׃ וְשָׁמַ֨ע אָבִ֜יהָ אֶת־נִדְרָ֗הּ וֶֽאֱסָרָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽסְרָ֣ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֔הּ וְהֶחֱרִ֥ישׁ לָ֖הּ אָבִ֑יהָ וְקָ֙מוּ֙ כׇּל־נְדָרֶ֔יהָ וְכׇל־אִסָּ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ יָקֽוּם׃ וְאִם־הֵנִ֨יא אָבִ֣יהָ אֹתָהּ֮ בְּי֣וֹם שׇׁמְעוֹ֒ כׇּל־נְדָרֶ֗יהָ וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛יהָ אֲשֶׁר־אָסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יָק֑וּם וַֽיהֹוָה֙ יִֽסְלַח־לָ֔הּ כִּי־הֵנִ֥יא אָבִ֖יהָ אֹתָֽהּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת מַּטּוֹת
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Numbers 30:3-6 - "If a man makes a vow to the Lord or makes an oath to prohibit himself, he shall not violate his word; according to whatever came out of his mouth, he shall do. If a woman makes a vow to the Lord, or imposes a prohibition [upon herself] while in her father's house, in her youth, if her father heard her vow or her prohibition which she has prohibited upon herself, yet her father remains silent, all her vows shall stand, and any prohibition that she has imposed upon herself shall stand. But if her father hinders her on the day he hears it, all her vows and her prohibitions that she has imposed upon herself shall not stand. The Lord will forgive her because her father hindered her."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
The Torah commands the laws of annulment of vows (hatarat nedarim), allowing them to be nullified under specific conditions set by the Torah.
This mitzvah establishes that vows and oaths may sometimes be annulled. A father may annul his daughter’s vows, and a husband his wife’s, in certain cases. Later, the Sages instituted a system of annulment through a beit din (rabbinical court), based on these verses.
The purpose is to provide balance: while vows are binding (Mitzvot 214–215), the Torah recognizes situations where annulment is necessary to prevent harm, regret, or unintended consequences. This framework ensures both the sanctity of speech and compassion for human frailty.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Nedarim 13:1): Explains that this mitzvah affirms the Torah’s provision for annulment under proper authority.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 407): The root is Hashem’s mercy — that people are not trapped forever by their words if circumstances change.
- Talmud (Nedarim 78a): Discusses the authority of fathers and husbands to annul vows, as well as the basis for rabbinical courts to do so.
- Rashi (Numbers 30:6): Notes that annulment is effective immediately upon disallowance, teaching that Hashem grants forgiveness in such cases.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Nedarim 13:1) explains that the Torah itself provides authority for annulment of vows. Faith in Hashem means recognizing that His law is both binding and merciful.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 407) stresses that annulment is not casual; it requires reverence for Hashem’s law and proper authority. Without fear of Heaven, annulment could be abused.
Compassion – רַחֲמִים
- The Torah’s allowance for annulment reflects Hashem’s mercy. Rashi (Numbers 30:6) notes that when a vow is annulled, “Hashem shall forgive her,” showing Divine compassion for human weakness.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Talmud (Nedarim 78a) highlights that annulment does not diminish the sanctity of words but preserves holiness by preventing vows from becoming a source of sin or despair.
Speech – דָּבָר
- Rambam emphasizes that vows elevate speech by binding it, but annulment protects speech from becoming destructive. This mitzvah acknowledges both the power and limits of language.
Vows / Oaths – נְדָרִים / שְׁבוּעוֹת
- Sefer HaChinuch explains that the annulment laws are part of the broader system of vows. They ensure balance: vows must be taken seriously, but there is also a release valve within halacha.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- The system of annulment later extended to rabbinical courts (beit din). This preserves communal trust in the legal system, ensuring that vows are addressed responsibly and consistently.
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
- The Torah grants fathers and husbands authority to annul certain vows (Numbers 30). This reflects family structures in halacha, where vows can affect household harmony.
Bein Adam L’Makom (between a person and G-d)
- Annulment safeguards one’s relationship with Hashem. Rather than being trapped in a vow that leads to sin, annulment allows reconciliation and forgiveness from G-d.
Bein Adam L’Chavero (between people)
- When vows involve others, annulment prevents harm or broken trust. It provides a way to resolve commitments without damaging relationships.
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