Kiddushin 20a

קידושין כ׳ ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 20a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Selling an אמה העבריה to relatives, how an עבד עברי leaves and redeems himself, and the ladder of punishment for trading in שביעית produce

Overview

The amud opens by finishing רבי אליעזר's teaching that "לאמה" allows a father to sell his daughter even to relatives. A קל וחומר from people of flawed lineage fails, because they can still do יעוד and relatives cannot. The גמרא explains how רבי מאיר learns these laws. It then settles two ברייתות about selling her to the seller's father or son: the רבנן agree to a sale wherever יעוד is possible. Next comes a ברייתא on "בגפו יבא בגפו יצא". רבא says an עבד עברי is not freed by losing a limb, and רב נחמן בר יצחק explains רבי אליעזר בן יעקב's reading: only a married slave may be given a שפחה כנענית. Another ברייתא teaches that an עבד עברי always redeems himself at the lower price. A scholar challenges אביי on why the פסוקים are read leniently, and אביי answers that the Torah is kind to the slave, since buying one is like buying a master. The scholar then quotes רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא's ladder of punishment for trading in שביעית produce. It runs from selling movable property, fields and house, to selling a daughter, borrowing with interest and selling oneself, even to a non-Jew. That ladder continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (40)

1. StatementCompleting the teaching that she may be sold to relatives
2. ChallengeWhy do we need a verse? A קל וחומר should be enough
3. ResolutionThe קל וחומר fails, so the verse is needed
4. QuestionHow does רבי מאיר learn these laws?
5. Responseרבי מאיר's sources: פסולין like רבי אליעזר, relatives like the רבנן
6. StatementTwo ברייתות disagree about selling her to his father or son
7. QuestionWhose view is the ברייתא that allows his father but not his son?
8. ChallengeThis ברייתא fits neither side
9. ResolutionThe רבנן agree when יעוד is possible
10. StatementTwo readings of בגפו יבא בגפו יצא
11. QuestionWhat does 'with his body' mean?
12. Responseרבא: he is not freed by losing a limb
13. Challengeאביי: that rule comes from another פסוק
14. ResolutionWithout בגפו, we'd think he gets paid and goes free
15. QuestionWhat does 'leaves alone' mean?
16. ResponseOnly a married עבד עברי may be given a שפחה כנענית
17. StatementValue went up: he still pays based on the original price
18. StatementValue went down: he pays based on the lower, current value
19. QuestionThese פסוקים are about a slave sold to a נכרי, so what about one sold to a Jew?
20. ResponseThe word 'שכיר' connects the two cases
21. Statementאביי invites any question
22. ChallengeWhy read the verses leniently?
23. ResolutionThe Torah is lenient toward the slave
24. ProofThe slave must live as well as his master
25. ChallengeMaybe the kindness covers only food and drink
26. Proofרבי יוסי begins: how severe is שביעית
27. ProofTrading in שביעית produce leads to selling movable property
28. ProofIf he does not repent, he sells his fields and then his house
29. QuestionWhy does the wording change?
30. Responseרב הונא: a repeated sin becomes permitted to him
31. ChallengeCan a sin really become permitted?
32. ResolutionIt only feels permitted to him
33. ProofIf he still does not repent, he sells his daughter
34. StatementWhy selling a daughter appears in this chain
35. ResponseA daughter's debt shrinks, interest keeps growing
36. ProofNext stage: he borrows with interest
37. ProofNext stage: he sells himself
38. ProofSold not to a Jew, but to a גר תושב
39. Statement״משפחת גר״ means a נכרי
40. StatementStarting to explain ״לעקר״