3

What is the source that a woman's (singing) voice is considered ervah?

1
  • Why do you have "singing" in parenthesis? Are you looking for a source for her voice or her singing voice?
    – Double AA
    Aug 8, 2014 at 15:34

2 Answers 2

13

Gemara Berachos 24a : Shmuel says that kol of a women is ervah because of the passuk in shir hashirim 2:14.

יד. יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע בְּסֵתֶר הַמַּדְרֵגָה הַרְאִינִי אֶת מַרְאַיִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִנִי אֶת קוֹלֵךְ כִּי קוֹלֵךְ עָרֵב וּמַרְאֵיךְ נָאוֶה:‏

My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the coverture of the steps, show me your appearance, let me hear your voice, for your voice is pleasant and your appearance is comely.'

3
  • I'm wondering how we know that this applies to singing and not speaking (re: ervah)?
    – SAH
    Dec 13, 2015 at 9:28
  • 1
    The Divrei Yatziv goes through this inyun,he does bring shittos who seem to hold that an esheis ish speaking voice is assur,the Mieri for one
    – sam
    Dec 13, 2015 at 16:29
  • @sah I think that is a fair question to ask separately
    – sam
    Dec 14, 2015 at 0:36
7

Yerushalmi Challah 12b : Shmuel says that kol of a women is ervah because of the passuk in yirmiyahu 3:9.

ט. וְהָיָה מִקֹּל זְנוּתָהּ וַתֶּחֱנַף אֶת הָאָרֶץ וַתִּנְאַף אֶת הָאֶבֶן וְאֶת הָעֵץ:‏

And it was through the voice [lit. lightness] of her harlotry, that she polluted the land, and she committed adultery with the stones and the wood.

3
  • 1
    nice find,I wonder why Shmuel gave to diff sources.
    – sam
    May 19, 2013 at 21:12
  • @shmuelbrin All editions of the Talmud Yerushlami that I can find now online denote the opening of the Amoraic discussion of the Mishna with 'גמ.
    – Double AA
    May 19, 2013 at 23:54
  • @DoubleAA they do, but I think that this is clearer. May 20, 2013 at 0:04

You must log in to answer this question.