Gemara Clarity

Kiddushin 16a

קידושין ט״ז ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 16a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 16a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How a Hebrew servant is acquired with a שטר, and the ways Hebrew servants go free

Overview

This amud opens by finishing a ברייתא: the פסוק about a Hebrew slave sold to a נכרי means a נכרי under Jewish rule. Then the גמרא asks for the source that a Hebrew servant can be acquired בשטר. עולא learns it by comparing an אמה העבריה to a woman being married. That comparison fits רב הונא, who says the master writes the שטר, but not רב חסדא, who says the father writes it. So רב אחא בר יעקב learns it from 'לא תצא כצאת העבדים': she is acquired like slaves. The גמרא then works out why that means שטר and not חזקה, and how each אמורא reads the פסוק. Next the גמרא gives sources for the ways an עבד עברי goes free: six years, the יובל, and גרעון כסף. A ברייתא adds that he can go free with a release document, and רבא learns from this that the slave's body is owned. Finally ריש לקיש teaches that the father's death frees an אמה העבריה. The גמרא defends him against the משנה's silence by saying the משנה lists only ways of going free that have a set time. רב ספרא's explanation of סימנין continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

– בְּנׇכְרִי שֶׁיֶּשְׁנוֹ תַּחַת יָדֶךָ,

with a gentile who is under your authority,

אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּנׇכְרִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ תַּחַת יָדֶךָ?

or is it only with a gentile who is not under your authority?

אָמַרְתָּ, וְכִי מָה אֶפְשָׁר לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ?

You can say: but what could be done to him?

הָא אֵין הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא

So the verse is speaking only of

The steps (39)

  1. ConclusionThe verse speaks of a gentile under Jewish authority
  2. QuestionWhere do we learn that a servant is acquired through a document?
  3. Responseעולא compares the maidservant to a woman being married
  4. ChallengeThe comparison only works if the master writes the document
  5. StatementThe dispute: who writes the maidservant's document?
  6. ChallengeThe challenge restated against רב חסדא
  7. ResolutionA new source: she is acquired like slaves
  8. ChallengeWhy not say she is acquired with possession like slaves?
  9. ResolutionOnly Canaanite slaves are acquired with possession
  10. ChallengeThen limit the document to Canaanite slaves too
  11. ResolutionThe פסוק 'she shall not go out like slaves' must teach something
  12. ChallengeWhy choose the document over possession?
  13. ResolutionA document is stronger because it can end a marriage
  14. ChallengePossession has its own special power
  15. ResolutionPossession is never used for marriage
  16. ResolutionSecond answer: 'אם אחרת' points to the document
  17. QuestionWhat does רב הונא learn from 'she shall not go out like slaves'?
  18. ResponseShe does not go free through loss of a limb
  19. QuestionWhere does רב חסדא learn the limb law?
  20. ResponseThe extra wording teaches two lessons
  21. StatementGoing free after six years
  22. StatementGoing free at the יובל
  23. StatementGoing free by paying for the remaining years
  24. StatementA ברייתא adds money, money's worth, and a document
  25. QuestionMoney and money's worth are clear, but what is the document?
  26. RejectionA note of debt for his value is just money
  27. ResponseThe document is a release document
  28. ChallengeWhy is a document needed to free him?
  29. ResolutionThe master owns the slave's body
  30. StatementThe father's death frees the maidservant
  31. ChallengeThe משנה does not mention the father's death
  32. ResolutionThe משנה left some things out
  33. QuestionWhat else did the משנה leave out?
  34. ResponseIt left out the master's death
  35. RejectionThe master's death does not count as left out
  36. ChallengeThen the משנה should list the father's death
  37. ResolutionThe משנה lists only things with a set time
  38. ChallengeBut signs of maturity have no set time either
  39. ResolutionSigns have no upper limit, but they do have a set time