Wikipedia's first sentence called it “member of the first generation of amoraim of babylonia and one of the most frequently cited authorities in the”. Today it says “jewish amora of the first generation”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Samuel of Nehardea was a member of the first generation of amoraim of Babylonia and one of the most frequently cited authorities in the Talmud . He headed the yeshiva of Nehardea . Samuel was the son of Tabbi Abba bar Abba, a sage who is best known in the Talmud for his famous son, and is most frequently referred to as the "Father of Samuel." In Talmudic texts, Samuel is frequently associated with Abba Arika , with whom he debated on many major issues.1He was the teacher of Rabbi Judah Bar Yehezkel .2From the little biographical information gleaned from the Talmud, we know that Samuel was never ordained as a teacher, that he was very precise with his words (Kiddishin 70), and that he had a special affinity for astronomy : one of his best known sayings was that "The paths of heaven are as clear to me as the pathways of Nehardea."3
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 17594894.
The opening as it stood in 2010 3 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba ( Hebrew : שמואל ) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia , known as an Amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Yeshiva at Nehardea .He was a teacher of halakha , judge , physician , and astronomer .He was born about 165 at Nehardea, in Babylonia and died there about 257.As in the case of many other great men, a number of legendary stories are connected with his birth (comp.Halakot Gedolot , Giṭṭin , end; Tos. Ḳid. s.v. ). In Talmudic texts, Samuel is frequently associated with Abba Arika , with whom he debated on many major issues. He was the teacher of Rabbi Judah ben Ezekiel . From the little biographical information gleaned from the Talmud, we know that Samuel was never ordained as a Tanna, that he was very precise with his words ( Kidd. 70), and that he had a special affinity for astronomy : one of his best known sayings was that "The paths of heaven are as clear to me as the pathways of Nehardea."
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 363466898.
The opening as it stood in 2015 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba ( Hebrew : שמואל or שמואל ירחינאה) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia , known as an Amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Yeshiva at Nehardea . He was a teacher of halakha , judge , physician , and astronomer . He was born about 165 CE at Nehardea, in Babylonia and died there about 257 CE. As in the case of many other great men, a number of legendary stories are connected with his birth (comp. Halakot Gedolot , Giṭṭin , end; Tos. Ḳid. 73a s.v. In Talmudic texts, Samuel is frequently associated with Abba Arika , with whom he debated on many major issues. He was the teacher of Rabbi Judah ben Ezekiel .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 652888119.
The opening as it stood in 2020 3 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba , often simply called Samuel ( Hebrew : שמואל) and occasionally Mar Samuel , was a Jewish Amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Yeshiva at Nehardea , Babylonia . He was a teacher of halakha , judge , physician , and astronomer . He was born about 165 CE at Nehardea, and died there in 254 CE.In the Talmud , Samuel is frequently associated with Abba Arikha ("Rav"), with whom he debated on many issues.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 937030446.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Babylonian rabbi (c.165-c.254) Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba , often simply called Samuel ( Hebrew : שמואל) and occasionally Mar Samuel , was a Jewish Amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Yeshiva at Nehardea , Babylonia . He was a teacher of halakha , judge , physician , and astronomer . He was born about 165 CE at Nehardea, and died there in 254 CE. In the Talmud , Samuel is frequently associated with Abba Arikha ("Rav"), with whom he debated on many issues.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1136791501. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “member of the first generation of amoraim of babylonia and one of the most frequently cited authorities in the”. Today it says “jewish amora of the first generation”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
member of the first generation of amoraim of babylonia and one of the most frequently cited authorities in the
Now
jewish amora of the first generation
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
