Gemara Clarity

Kiddushin 33a

קידושין ל״ג ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 33a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 33a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The scope of קימה and הידור for elders and scholars: cost, place, distance, the elder's own duty, and who counts as a זקן

Overview

The גמרא first finishes proving from the wording of the פסוק that שיבה and זקן describe one person. It then works through the ברייתא line by line. קימה and הידור are compared in both directions, so honoring an elder never requires stopping work or spending money. From this comes the rule that בעלי אומניות may not stand for תלמידי חכמים while they are working, and the standing shown to those bringing ביכורים is explained as a special case. Next, the גמרא splits the bathhouse into rooms: there is no standing in the inner rooms, but standing is required in the outer rooms. The גמרא also teaches that a person may not close his eyes ahead of time to escape the מצוה. It sets the distance for standing at four אמות, and for one's רב מובהק it is as far as one can see. On the elder's side, he should not trouble people, and a scholar who walks around them is promised long life. Finally, רבי יוחנן rules like איסי בן יהודה that every elderly person deserves honor, and stories show how different אמוראים honored and helped elders.

Opening lines

״מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם וְהָדַרְתָּ,

"Before the old one you shall stand and honor,

תָּקוּם וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן״

you shall stand and honor the face of an elder."

וּמִדְּלָא כְּתַב הָכִי,

And since [the Torah] did not write it this way,

שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ חַד הוּא.

learn from it that it is one.

The steps (30)

  1. ConclusionThe verse's wording shows שיבה and זקן are one person
  2. StatementHonoring an elder does not require spending money
  3. ChallengeStanding up can cost a worker money
  4. ResolutionThe verse compares standing and honoring in both directions
  5. ConclusionCraftsmen may not stand for scholars while working
  6. ChallengeA משנה shows craftsmen standing up for people
  7. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: the standing was only for the people bringing ביכורים
  8. StatementA מצוה done at its proper time is precious
  9. RejectionPerhaps ביכורים is a special case
  10. ChallengeMust one stand in a bathhouse? The story of רבי חייא
  11. ChallengeA second bathhouse story with בר קפרא
  12. ProofInference from רבי's answer: one must stand even in a bathhouse
  13. ResolutionInner rooms versus outer rooms of the bathhouse
  14. ProofSupport from רבי יוחנן's rule about thinking Torah
  15. RejectionMaybe the student could not help it
  16. ChallengeWould anyone close his eyes on purpose?
  17. ResolutionClosing his eyes before the duty begins
  18. StatementStanding counts as honor within four אמות
  19. StatementFor one's main teacher, stand as soon as you see him
  20. Proofאביי stood when he saw his teacher's donkey
  21. ChallengeThe rabbis across the river did not stand for אביי
  22. ResolutionThe students had not noticed him
  23. StatementAn elder should not burden people with his honor
  24. StatementA scholar who walks around people lives long
  25. Challengeרבינא complains about a man who did not cover his head
  26. ResolutionHe may come from a town full of rabbis
  27. Statementאיסי בן יהודה: every elderly person deserves standing
  28. Conclusionרבי יוחנן rules like איסי בן יהודה
  29. Statementרבי יוחנן stands for non-Jewish elders, while רבא only shows honor
  30. StatementHow אביי, רבא and רב נחמן helped elders