Kiddushin 29b

קידושין כ״ט ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 29b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 29b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

A father's duties to his son (פדיון הבן and teaching תורה), which מצוה comes first, and learning versus marrying

Overview

The amud starts by finishing a discussion about a father who must redeem both himself and his firstborn son. If he has only five סלעים, he redeems himself first. רבי יהודה and the רבנן argue about a case with sold land and free land, and their argument depends on whether a debt from the תורה works like a loan in a שטר. A ברייתא then asks which comes first, redeeming one's son or going up for the רגל. Another ברייתא teaches that every son who is his mother's first child must be redeemed. The גמרא next gives the source for a father's duty to teach his son תורה, and a chain of פסוקים showing that women are not obligated to learn or teach. When father and son both need to learn, the father usually comes first, and this is shown through the story of רב אחא בר יעקב and the demon in אביי's study hall. The amud ends by asking whether to learn תורה or marry first, with stories and sayings stressing early marriage. רב חסדא's statement about marrying at sixteen continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. StatementWith only five סלעים, the father redeems himself first
2. StatementWhere the disagreement really is
3. Statementרבי יהודה: a תורה debt is like a written loan, so both can be redeemed
4. StatementThe רבנן: a תורה debt is not like a written loan, so the father comes first
5. Statementברייתא: redeem your son first, then go up for the רגל
6. Statementרבי יהודה: the רגל comes first because its time passes
7. QuestionWhat is the reason of the רבנן?
8. ResponseThe order of the verse puts redeeming first
9. StatementFive firstborn sons from five wives must all be redeemed
10. ChallengeIsn't this obvious?
11. ResolutionWe might have compared it to the firstborn of inheritance
12. QuestionWhere do we learn the duty to teach one's son תורה?
13. ResponseThe verse: you shall teach them to your sons
14. StatementIf the father did not teach him, he must teach himself
15. QuestionWhy a mother is not obligated to teach her son
16. ResponseOnly one who must learn must teach
17. QuestionWhy a woman is not obligated to learn herself
18. ResponseWhoever others must teach must teach himself
19. QuestionWhy others are not commanded to teach a woman
20. ResponseYour sons and not your daughters
21. StatementFather and son both need to learn: the father comes first
22. Statementרבי יהודה: a sharp son comes first
23. Proofרב אחא בר יעקב decides to go learn himself
24. Statementאביי plans for a miracle against the demon
25. StatementThe Miracle in the Study Hall
26. StatementLearn Torah First, Then Marry
27. Statementשמואל Rules: Marry First
28. Statementרבי יוחנן: A Millstone Around the Neck
29. ResolutionNo Argument: Each Speaks to a Different Place
30. Proofרב הונא Rebukes the Unmarried רב המנונא
31. Statementרב הונא's view: unmarried at twenty means a life of sin
32. ChallengeCan it really mean he is in sin all his days?
33. ResolutionCorrection: all his days in thoughts of sin
34. Proofרבא's support from the school of רבי ישמעאל: God waits until twenty
35. Statementרב חסדא: I am greater because I married at sixteen