Bava Kamma 64a

בבא קמא ס״ד ע״א

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Topic

How the ברייתא, as explained by רבא through כלל ופרט וכלל, reads the פסוק of כפל so that ״גניבה״ makes every stolen item subject to double payment

Overview

The ברייתא goes through the פסוק of כפל (שמות 22:3) word by word. Each time, it imagines a shorter פסוק and asks whether the general word ״גניבה״ would then cover only items like the animals listed. That narrow group always turns out to add only something the פסוק already names outright: a sheep, a donkey, or animals through the word ״חיים״. So ״גניבה״ must include every item. The גמרא then challenges the ברייתא's wording 'let it say ox and theft.' Read either way, ox first or theft first, the rules of פרט וכלל and כלל ופרט do not fit what the ברייתא says. רבא explains that the ברייתא counts ״חיים״ as a second general word, which makes the פסוק a כלל ופרט וכלל. When the two general words seem unlike each other, the גמרא answers that this ברייתא follows דבי רבי ישמעאל. רבא then walks through the whole ברייתא again on this reading. It ends by asking why the doubled phrase ״אם המצא תמצא״ is needed, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. RejectionSince sheep is written, theft must include everything
2. ChallengeWhy does the verse need to mention donkey?
3. ResolutionWithout donkey, theft would be limited to firstborn-holy animals
4. RejectionSince donkey is written, theft must include everything
5. ChallengeWhy does the verse need the word alive?
6. ResolutionWithout alive, theft would be limited to living creatures
7. RejectionThe word 'alive' already covers living creatures
8. ConclusionThe word 'theft' includes every item
9. ChallengeThe verse puts 'theft' before 'ox'
10. ResolutionSuggestion: the ברייתא means 'if it had said'
11. RejectionOx first would include everything
12. ResolutionSuggestion: the ברייתא follows the verse's real order
13. RejectionTheft first would include only an ox
14. Resolutionרבא: the word 'alive' makes this a כלל ופרט וכלל
15. ChallengeThe two general words are not alike
16. ResolutionThis ברייתא follows the school of רבי ישמעאל
17. Resolutionרבא explains what the ברייתא found difficult
18. ResponseWithout the extra words, only altar animals would be included
19. QuestionWhy does the פסוק need to say donkey?
20. ResponseWithout donkey we would limit it to firstborn-type animals
21. ConclusionDonkey is written, so theft includes everything
22. QuestionThen why does the פסוק need extra words beyond the list with donkey?
23. ResponseWith that list we would include only animals
24. ConclusionAnimals are already written, so theft includes everything
25. ChallengeThen why does the פסוק say "if it shall surely be found"?