The Talmud on Blessings over Food

35a–b

The sages taught: One is forbidden to derive benefit from this world without [reciting] a blessing [beforehand]. And anyone who derives benefit from this world without a blessing, [it is as if he is guilty of] misuse [of a consecrated object]. What is his remedy? He should go to a sage. [Why] should he go to a sage; what will he do to him? [How can the sage help after] he has already violated a prohibition? Rather, Rava said: He should go to a sage initially, [in his youth,] and [the sage] will teach him blessings, so that he will not come to [be guilty of this type of] misuse [of a consecrated object in the future. Similarly,] R. Judah said that Samuel said: One who derives benefit from this world without a blessing, it is as if he enjoyed objects consecrated to the heavens, as it is stated: The earth and all it contains is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1). R. Levi raised a contradiction: It is written: The earth and all it contains is the Lord’s, and it is written elsewhere: The heavens are the Lord’s and the earth He has given over to mankind (Psalm 115:16). [This is] not difficult. Here, [the verse that says that the earth is the Lord’s refers to the situation] before a blessing [is recited, and] here, [where it says that He gave the earth to mankind refers to] after a blessing [is recited.] [ . . . ]

40b

[It was taught: One who] saw bread and said, “How pleasant is this bread, blessed is the Omnipresent who created it,” fulfilled [his obligation to recite a blessing]. One who saw a fig and said, “How pleasant is this fig, blessed is the Omnipresent who created it,” fulfilled [his obligation. This is] the statement of R. Meir. R. Yosi says: One who deviates from the formula coined by the sages in blessings did not fulfill his obligation.

Benjamin the shepherd ate bread and [afterward] recited [in Aramaic]: Blessed is the Master of this bread. Rav said, [he thereby] fulfilled h[is obligation to recite a blessing].