More Discussions for this daf
1. Eggs that were "Safna Me'ara" 2. A Tereifah's eggs 3. Sheratzim in fruit
4. Isur of Shechting a mother cow and its Vlad on the same day. 5. Rebbi Yehoshua's positions 6. Eggs
DAF DISCUSSIONS - CHULIN 58

DAVID KRAMER ASKED:

Can you please clarify the idea of Safna Mar'ah? The Soncino translates as Parthenogenesis, but is that really so? Is the Gemarah really saying a chicken can get impregnated by the dust?

Is there any later explanations in the Rishonim or Achronim?

David Kramer

The Kollel replies:

David,

Parthenogenesis refers to an egg that develops into a child without being impregnated by a male's sperm. I don't believe that's what the Gemara is referring to here. Safna Me'ara *does* mean that the chicken's egg was not impregnated, but that egg will never develop into a chicken.

In our Sugya, RASHI DH Bidsafna explains that Safna Me'ara means thata hen is "warmed from the ground and gives birth [Yoledes]." However, he does not mean that she gives birth to a *chicken*. She gives birth to an *egg*, as is clear from the usage of the term "Yoledes" in Beitzah 7a (bottom of the Daf), with respect to Safna Me'ara.

Be well,

Mordecai