"Iron Sharpens Iron": The Source Text for Chevruta

R’ Hama b. Hanina said, “What is the meaning of the verse: 'Iron sharpens iron, so too does a man sharpen the countenance of his friend.' (Proverbs 27:17)?"

This teaches you that just as one iron sharpens the other [lit. “its friend, chaverav], so too do two scholars sharpen each other with [joint study of] halacha.

Rabbah bar Hanah said: "Why are the words of Torah compared to fire, as it is written: 'Is not My word like as fire? said the Eternal, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?' (Jeremiah 23:29)?"

This teaches you that just as fire does not ignite itself, neither do the words of Torah exist with one [who studies alone]...

R’ Nachman b. Isaac [asked]: "Why are the words of the Torah compared to

a tree?, as it is written: 'She is a tree of to all those who hold fast to her; her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.' (Proverbs 3:18)?"

This teaches you that just as a small tree may set a bigger tree on fire, so too do lesser scholars sharpen greater scholars.

As R’ Haninah would say: I have learned much from my teachers, and from my friends [colleagues, m’chaverai] more than from my teachers, and from my students more than from all.