Commentary for Avodah Zarah 84:17
אי במוצא אימא מציעתא כל הפרצופות מותרין חוץ מפרצוף אדם אי במוצא פרצוף אדם מי אסור והתנן המוצא כלים ועליהם צורת חמה צורת לבנה צורת דרקון יוליכם לים המלח צורת דרקון אין פרצוף אדם לא
If, then, it refers to finding them, consider the middle clause: “All faces are permissible except that of a human face.” Now if this refers to finding them, is the picture of a human face prohibited? Surely we have learnt: if one finds utensils upon which is the figure of the sun or moon or a dragon, he must them into the salt sea. Which implies that [he does this] to the figure of a dragon but not to the picture of a human face!
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
If the first clause refers to finding images, then the second clause should also refer to finding images. One who finds an image with a face on it may use it unless it is a human face.
But this clashes with the mishnah—the mishnah allows one to use a vessel with a human face on it. Only the image of a dragon is forbidden.
Thus the second clause must refer to making the images, and it accords with an opinion attributed later to R. Huna son of R. Joshua who says that the verse prohibits making human figures.
But this clashes with the mishnah—the mishnah allows one to use a vessel with a human face on it. Only the image of a dragon is forbidden.
Thus the second clause must refer to making the images, and it accords with an opinion attributed later to R. Huna son of R. Joshua who says that the verse prohibits making human figures.
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