Bava Metzia 65a

בבא מציעא ס״ה ע״א

Learn Bava Metzia 65a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Metzia 65a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Hidden forms of רבית: a lender's free benefits, taking back interest paid in goods, and charging more for later payment

Overview

This amud opens by finishing a story about רב יוסף בר חמא, who used his debtors' slaves for free. His son רבא shows him that when the slave's owner owes you money, this looks like רבית, and he takes back his practice. Next, אביי and רבא argue about how a court takes back interest that was paid in goods: wheat given at a discount, and a cloak. רבא adds a case where interest was paid through an overpriced rental, and the lender is held to the price he agreed to. Then a new משנה teaches that a higher price for paying later is allowed for rent but forbidden for a sale. The גמרא explains why: rent is only owed at the end, based on a פסוק, so the higher rent is the real price, while a sale price is owed right away. Finally, רב נחמן allows טרשא, a quiet higher price for later payment. רב פפא and רב חמא each explain why their own טרשא deals are allowed.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementThe reason the master doesn't mind
2. Challengeרבא: when you are owed money, it looks like interest
3. ProofProof from רב נחמן about living in a borrower's courtyard
4. Conclusionרב יוסף בר חמא takes back his practice
5. Statementאביי: interest paid in wheat at a discount
6. Statementרבא: take back all five
7. Statementאביי: interest paid with a cloak
8. Statementרבא: take back the cloak itself
9. ResponseWhy רבא takes the cloak: so people won't talk
10. StatementInterest paid through an overpriced courtyard rental
11. ChallengeWhy can't the lender claim the normal price?
12. ResolutionYou agreed to the price
13. StatementCharging more for later payment: rent yes, sale no
14. QuestionWhy is rent different from a sale?
15. ResponseRent is only due at the end, so paying early is a discount
16. ResponseWhy a higher price for paying later on a sale is forbidden
17. ProofThe פסוק showing rent is paid at the end
18. Statementרב נחמן: a quiet price increase is allowed
19. ChallengeChallenge to רב נחמן from the משנה
20. ResolutionOpenly stating the extra charge versus just quoting a price
21. Statementרב פפא: why his delayed-payment beer sales are allowed
22. ChallengeLook at the buyers' side, not the seller's
23. Statementרב חמא says his own טרשא is surely allowed
24. ResponseThe reason: the buyers gain from his name