Gemara Clarity

Kiddushin 21b

קידושין כ״א ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 21b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 21b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Redemption by relatives, the laws of the נרצע, and whether a כהן may be given a שפחה כנענית or take a יפת תאר

Overview

The גמרא first finishes a discussion about which redemptions relatives may make. It explains that the triple 'יגאלנו' teaches that the closest relative redeems first. It then returns to the משנה: a נרצע is acquired by piercing his ear, and he goes free at the יובל or when his master dies. רבי and רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה argue about which tools may be used for the piercing, and the גמרא traces their argument to two different ways of reading the פסוק. A ברייתא teaches that a כהן who is an עבד עברי is not pierced, because he would become a בעל מום and could not return to his full family status. רב נחמן uses that ברייתא to prove that a master may give a כהן slave a שפחה כנענית. Finally, רב and שמואל argue, in two versions, about whether a כהן may take a יפת תאר. A ברייתא then starts explaining that law word by word, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הָהוּא לְקוֹבְעוֹ חוֹבָה,

That one is to establish it as an obligation,

וַאֲפִילּוּ לְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.

and even according to רבי יהושע.

תָּא שְׁמַע:

Come and hear:

מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר

What does the verse come to teach

The steps (35)

  1. ResolutionThat verse makes redemption an obligation
  2. ProofProof from the triple 'he shall redeem him'
  3. RejectionNo, it includes open-area houses and ancestral fields
  4. ChallengeOpen-area houses already have an explicit verse
  5. ResolutionA closer relative comes first
  6. StatementA pierced slave is acquired by piercing
  7. StatementHe goes free when the master dies
  8. Statement'Forever' means until the Jubilee
  9. StatementAny handheld tool may be used for piercing
  10. StatementOnly metal tools may be used, and a large awl is included
  11. StatementThe piercing is done on the earlobe
  12. ChallengeThe Sages prove the piercing is on the upper ear
  13. QuestionWhat is the root of the tool dispute?
  14. Responseרבי reads the verse as a כלל ופרט וכלל
  15. Responseרבי יוסי reads the verse as include, exclude, include
  16. ResponseWhat is included and what is left out
  17. QuestionHow does 'the awl' show a large awl?
  18. Response'The' means the special one, like 'the thigh'
  19. StatementThe ברייתא about the earlobe and the כהן slave, quoted again
  20. ChallengeWhy not let him become blemished?
  21. ResolutionHe must return to his full family status
  22. QuestionCan a master give a כהן slave a Canaanite maidservant?
  23. Statementרב permits, שמואל forbids
  24. Challengeרב נחמן scolds שמואל's students for missing a proof
  25. ProofThe proof explained: he could never say 'I love my wife and children'
  26. QuestionDoes the captive woman permission apply to a כהן?
  27. Statementרב permits, שמואל forbids
  28. StatementVersion one: everyone permits the first relations
  29. StatementVersion one: they argue about the second relations
  30. StatementThe reasons of רב and שמואל in version one
  31. StatementVersion two: everyone forbids the second relations
  32. StatementVersion two: רב permits the first relations
  33. StatementVersion two: שמואל ties the first relations to marriage
  34. StatementThe permission applies only during captivity, even to a married woman
  35. StatementThe Torah allowed this only because of the evil inclination