Gemara Clarity

Bava Kamma 63a

בבא קמא ס״ג ע״א

Learn Bava Kamma 63a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Kamma 63a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which stolen things carry כפל: birds, the word כל as a ריבוי, and what the listed details exclude

Overview

The גמרא asks whether a thief who steals birds must pay כפל. It first tries to leave birds out, because each animal in the פסוק seems to be read on its own. It then shows that שור and חמור together would already cover all animals, so the extra word שה must come to include birds. The word כל in ״על כל דבר פשע״ is a ריבוי, so even non-kosher birds are included. The גמרא challenges this from the מעשר שני פסוק, where a ברייתא reads כל as part of a כלל ופרט וכלל. It gives two answers. First, בכל is a כלל while plain כל is a ריבוי. Second, the כל of כפל is special, because the section already has its own כלל ופרט וכלל, so the extra phrase must be a ריבוי. Finally, the גמרא explains the listed details: they exclude land, slaves, documents and items that are not clearly defined. ״על כל אבדה״ teaches רבי יוחנן's rule about someone who falsely claims a thief stole a lost item, and that rule continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּהָא כֹּל חַד וְחַד

For each and every one

כְּלָל וּפְרָט בְּאַפֵּי נַפְשֵׁיהּ

as a generalization and detail by itself

דָּרְשִׁינַן לֵיהּ;

we expound it;

אֲבָל עוֹפוֹת – לָא!

but birds – no!

The steps (15)

  1. ChallengeEach animal in the verse is read separately, so birds are left out
  2. RejectionThen the Torah should have written only one example
  3. ChallengeNo single animal would have been enough
  4. ResolutionThe extra word 'sheep' comes to include birds
  5. ChallengeMaybe only kosher birds are included
  6. ResolutionThe word כל includes all birds
  7. ChallengeIs כל always an inclusion?
  8. ProofThe ברייתא about spending מעשר money
  9. Resolutionבכל is a כלל, but כל is a ריבוי
  10. ResolutionUsually a כלל, but here a ריבוי
  11. ProofSetting up the proof: an earlier כלל ופרט וכלל already exists
  12. ProofThe extra phrase must be a ריבוי
  13. ChallengeIf כל includes everything, why list the details?
  14. ResolutionEach detail comes to exclude something
  15. Resolution״על כל אבדה″ teaches the rule of רבי חייא בר אבא