Commentary for Avodah Zarah 34:3
א"ל רבנן לרבא מאי מזימה אילימא תורה דכתיב בה זימה ומתרגמינן עצת חטאין וכתיב (ישעיהו כח, כט) הפליא עצה הגדיל תושיה אי הכי זימה מבעי ליה ה"ק מדבר זימה תשמור עליך תורה תנצרכה
The rabbis said to Rava: What does the word “mezimmah” mean? If we render it “Torah” since the word zimmah in Scripture is translated in the Targum, “It is a counsel of the wicked” and Scripture has the phrase, “Wonderful is His counsel and great His wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29)? But in that case the word should have been zimmah. This is what it therefore means, “Against matters of licentiousness (zimmah) she shall watch over you, and discernment will guard against you.”
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Here Rava explains why he renders the word “mezimmah” as from or against matters of licentiousness and not Torah. The “mem” in front of the word does not make sense if “mezimmah” is simply Torah.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy