The am ha'aretz are denounced in a very late and exceptional passage in Talmud Bavli Pesahim 49, where they are contrasted with the chachamim ("wise") and talmidei chachamim ("wise students", i.e. scholars of the Talmud).
Rabbi Naftoli Shapiro (1906–1981) was an Orthodox Talmudic scholar and rosh yeshiva in Glasgow for 40 years.
Isaac ben Sheshet continued and negated amplifying the penalty since the embarrassed Kohen was not a learned Talmid Chacham Kohen, but an unschooled am ha-aretz Kohen.
A neder may be annulled by either a beit din (court of Jewish law, composed of at least three adult men), or singlehandedly by a Talmid chacham (Torah scholar).