Gemara Clarity

Bava Metzia 75a

בבא מציעא ע״ה ע״א

Learn Bava Metzia 75a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Metzia 75a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Loans of produce and other cases of רבית: wheat loans, הלל's strict view, gifts between תלמידי חכמים, and trading farm work.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא about lending wheat. רב ששת explains that it is talking about a loan where no price was set: if wheat gets cheaper the lender takes wheat back, and if it gets more expensive the borrower pays the old value. A new משנה forbids borrowing wheat to repay at harvest, because a price rise would be רבית. It allows a very short loan, like 'until I find the key', but הלל forbids even that, and even lending a loaf of bread without setting its value. The גמרא brings רב הונא and רבי יצחק on how owning some grain makes such a loan allowed, and רבי חייא's teaching supports רבי יצחק. שמואל rules like הלל, but the גמרא says the הלכה is not like him, and the חכמים let neighbors borrow and repay casually. שמואל then teaches about friends who are strict with each other when sharing meals, and says תלמידי חכמים may give each other extra on a loan as a gift. רב's idea of lending to one's family with רבית as a lesson is rejected. A new משנה closes the amud: neighbors may swap the same kind of farm work, but not different kinds.

Opening lines

הַלְוֵינִי כּוֹר חִטִּין

Lend me a kor of wheat

וְקוֹצֵץ לוֹ דָּמִים,

and he sets a price for him

הוּזְלוּ – נוֹתֵן לוֹ חִטִּים,

if they became cheaper, he gives him wheat

הוּקְרוּ – נוֹתֵן דְּמֵיהֶם.

if they became more expensive, he gives their value

The steps (18)

  1. StatementLending wheat with a set price
  2. ChallengeBut a price was set
  3. Resolutionרב ששת: the case is where no price was set
  4. StatementNo borrowing wheat to be repaid at harvest, but a short loan is fine
  5. Statementהלל forbids even a short loan, and even a loaf of bread
  6. Statementרב הונא: you may borrow as much as you already have
  7. Statementרבי יצחק: one סאה is enough to borrow many כורים
  8. ProofA teaching from רבי חייא backs up רבי יצחק
  9. Statementשמואל rules like הלל
  10. ConclusionThe final ruling does not follow שמואל
  11. StatementThe חכמים disagree with הלל about the loaf of bread
  12. StatementFriends who share meals and are strict with each other
  13. StatementTorah scholars may borrow from each other with interest
  14. ResponseThe reason: the extra is a gift
  15. Proofשמואל borrows peppers from אבוה בר איהי
  16. StatementLending to one's family with interest to teach a lesson
  17. RejectionRejected: the family may get used to it
  18. Statementמשנה: trading the same farm work, not different work