Gemara Clarity

Gittin 85b

גיטין פ״ה ע״ב

Learn Gittin 85b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 85b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The essential wording of a גט and a גט שחרור, the dispute over "וְדֵן", and אביי's spelling rules for a גט

Overview

The משנה finishes the essential wording of a גט with רבי יהודה's longer Aramaic sentence beginning "וְדֵן". It then gives the core wording of a גט שחרור: "הרי את בן חורין" or "הרי את לעצמך". The גמרא says it is obvious that 'free' wording does not divorce a wife, and 'permitted to any man' wording does not free a maidservant. It then asks whether "הרי את לעצמך" works for a wife, and רבינא proves it does with a קל וחומר from a slave. Next, a ברייתא about a slave sold to a non-Jew, explained by רב ששת, shows that "אין לי עסק בך" frees a slave. The גמרא explains that רבי יהודה and the רבנן disagree about ידים שאין מוכיחות, which is why רבי יהודה needs "וְדֵן". אביי then lists spelling rules so that no word in a גט can be misread. Finally, the גמרא asks whether we rule that "וְדֵן" is needed, rejects a proof from רבא's standard גט wording, and begins explaining the phrases "מיומא דנן" and "ולעלם". That explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Yehuda says:

״וְדֵן, דְּיֶהֱוֵי לִיכִי מִינַּאי –

"And this, which you shall have from me,

סֵפֶר תֵּירוּכִין, וְאִגֶּרֶת שִׁבּוּקִין,

is a scroll of divorce, and a letter of leave,

וְגֵט פִּטּוּרִין;

and a bill of dismissal;

The steps (20)

  1. Statementרבי יהודה's fuller wording for a גט
  2. StatementThe core wording of a bill freeing a slave
  3. StatementDivorce wording and freedom wording cannot be swapped
  4. QuestionDoes "you are your own" divorce a wife?
  5. Proofרבינא's proof from the slave case
  6. QuestionDoes "I have no business with you" free a slave?
  7. ProofA ברייתא about a slave sold to a non-Jew
  8. Response"His document" says: I have no business with you
  9. QuestionWhat is the root of רבי יהודה's dispute with the רבנן?
  10. ResponseThe רבנן: unclear wording still works when the meaning is obvious
  11. ResponseWhy רבי יהודה needs the word "וְדֵן"
  12. Statementאביי: spell "וְדֵן" without a יוד
  13. Statementאביי: spelling "אִגֶּרֶת" and "לִמְהָךְ" carefully
  14. Statementאביי: three יודין, and long ווין
  15. StatementLast spelling rules: long ו in כדו, and how to write להתנסבא
  16. QuestionDo we need the line "וְדֵן" in a גט?
  17. ProofProof from רבא's גט wording, which has no "וְדֵן"
  18. RejectionRejection: רבא's wording leaves out other required lines too
  19. StatementWhy the גט says "From this day"
  20. StatementIntroducing the phrase "And forever"