5. Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 50b
R. Akiva said, “Yishmael my brother! I learn new laws from the textual difference between the word ‘daughter’ and the word ‘the daughter.’
Tosafos:
R. Akiva always extrapolates from an extra vav.
6. Babylonian Talmud Nedarim 50a
R. Akiva became wealthy from six things...
7. Babylonian Talmud Kidushin 57a
It was taught: Shimon the Imsonite — others state, Nehemiah the Imsonite, — interpreted every es in the Torah, but as soon as he came to, “You shall fear [es] the Lord your God,” he retracted.
His disciples said to him, ‘Master, what is to happen with all the eses which you have already interpreted?’ And Shimon replied, ‘Just as I received reward for interpreting them so do I receive reward for retracting them.’
Subsequently R. Akiva came and taught: “You shall fear [es] the Lord your God,” the es is to include Torah scholars.
8. Babylonian Talmud Menachos 49b
Rav Judah said in the name of Rav, When Moses ascended on high he found the Holy One, blessed be He, engaged in affixing crowns to the letters. Said Moses, ‘Lord of the Universe, who is compelling you to do this’ He answered, ‘There will arise a man, at the end of many generations, Akiva b. Joseph by name, who will expound upon each crown heaps and heaps of laws.’ ‘Lord of the Universe,’ said Moses; ‘permit me to see him.’ He replied, ‘Turn around.’ Moses went and sat down eight rows back in Rabbi Akiva’s classroom.
9. Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 49b
R. Akiba said: When I was an ‘am ha‐aretz’ I said: If only one would place a scholar [before me], and I would maul him like a donkey!
His disciples to him, Rabbi, say like a dog!
He answered them: The former bites and breaks the bones, while the latter bites but does not break the bones.
