Kiddushin 30a

קידושין ל׳ ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 30a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 30a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Marrying off a son, the duty to teach children and grandchildren תורה, and how to learn and know תורה

Overview

The amud opens with the end of רב חסדא's remark about marrying young. רבא then advises marrying off a son while the father still has influence over him, ages 16–22 or 18–24, which matches a dispute between תנאים about 'חנוך לנער'. Next the גמרא asks how much תורה a father must teach his son. שמואל points to זבולון בן דן, and after a challenge the גמרא concludes the required amount is only מקרא, though even a grandfather must teach. A ברייתא that seems to exempt grandfathers is answered by another ברייתא, which learns grandsons from 'ולבני בניך' and leaves out daughters. רבי יהושע בן לוי teaches that teaching a grandson is like receiving the תורה at הר סיני, and stories show חכמים putting this first each day. The גמרא then reads ושננתם as ושלשתם: every day should be split among מקרא, משנה and תלמוד. This leads to the סופרים who counted the letters, words and verses of the תורה, and רב יוסף shows we can no longer settle where the exact middle falls. The amud ends with a ברייתא saying תורה must be sharp in your mouth, and its proof-verse comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. StatementThe end of רב חסדא's remark: an arrow in the שטן's eye
2. Statementרבא's advice: marry off your son while you still have control
3. StatementWhat age is that? Two versions
4. ProofThis matches a dispute between תנאים about 'חנוך לנער'
5. QuestionHow much תורה must a father teach his son?
6. Responseשמואל: like זבולון בן דן, whose grandfather taught him everything
7. ChallengeA ברייתא says מקרא alone is enough
8. ResolutionLike זבולון בן דן in one way, not in another
9. ChallengeIs a grandfather really obligated to teach?
10. Resolutionשמואל follows a different ברייתא
11. StatementTeaching a grandson is like receiving the Torah at Sinai
12. Proofרבי יהושע בן לוי rushes his grandchild to learn
13. ConclusionNo breakfast before teaching the child
14. StatementLearning should be split into three
15. StatementA third for Bible, a third for משנה, a third for Talmud
16. ChallengeNobody knows how long he will live
17. ResolutionThe division is done each day
18. StatementWhy the early sages were called סופרים
19. QuestionWhich half does the vav of גחון belong to?
20. ResponseLet's just count the letters
21. RejectionWe are not experts in spelling
22. QuestionWhich half does the verse 'והתגלח' belong to?
23. Responseאביי: At least we can count the verses
24. RejectionWe are not experts in verse divisions either
25. StatementThe number of verses in the תורה, תהלים and דברי הימים
26. Statement'ושננתם': Torah should be sharp in your mouth