Kiddushin 49b
קידושין מ״ט ע״ב
Learn Kiddushin 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
Open Kiddushin 49b in Gemara Clarity
Topic
קידושין on conditions about the man himself, the ten portions of traits, and why unspoken intentions do not count
Overview
The amud opens by explaining what a man must know when he betroths a woman on condition that he knows תורה, and the exact wording of his claim changes the standard. A ברייתא then goes through conditions a man might set about himself: a תלמיד, a חכם, a גבור, or an עשיר. For each one it sets a realistic minimum instead of demanding greatness. If he says he is a צדיק or a רשע, the קידושין can take effect even if he seems to be the opposite, because one thought can change a person in a moment. The גמרא then brings an אגדה about ten portions of each trait coming down to the world. It stops to work out why arrogance belongs to עילם and not to בבל. A new משנה rules that when a man betroths on a spoken condition about himself that turns out false, she is not betrothed. This holds even if she says she didn't care, and the same is true when she misled him. The גמרא then tells of a man who sold his property planning to move to ארץ ישראל. רבא rules that unspoken intentions do not count, and the search for רבא's source continues on the next amud.
Opening lines
מַאי תּוֹרָה –
What is 'Torah'?
מִדְרַשׁ תּוֹרָה.
The interpretation of the Torah.
וְהָנֵי מִילֵּי דַּאֲמַר לַהּ: ״תָּנֵינָא״,
And this applies when he said to her, 'I have learned,'
אֲבָל אֲמַר לַהּ: ״תַּנָּא אֲנָא״,
but if he said to her, 'I am a תנא,'
The steps (22)
- QuestionWhat does 'Torah' mean here?
- ResponseIt means the interpretation of the Torah
- StatementThe exact words the man used change the standard
- Statement'I am a student': no need to be a great scholar
- Statement'I am a wise man': no need to be like the sages of יבנה
- Statement'I am strong': no need to be a famous warrior
- Statement'I am rich': no need to be among the richest
- Statement'I am righteous': even a wicked man may qualify
- Statement'I am wicked': even a righteous man may qualify
- StatementTen portions of each trait came down to the world
- ChallengeA פסוק suggests arrogance went to בבל
- ResolutionArrogance came to בבל but slipped off to עילם
- ProofThe verse's wording supports the answer
- ChallengePoverty is a sign of arrogance, and בבל is the poor place
- ResolutionThe poverty meant is poverty in Torah
- Proofעילם learned תורה but could not teach it
- StatementThe rest of the list of ten portions
- StatementFalse conditions about who he is and where he lives
- StatementFalse conditions about his daughter, maidservant, or sons
- StatementRuling: she is not betrothed, even if she says she didn't care
- StatementA man sells his property, planning to move to ארץ ישראל, and רבא's ruling
- QuestionWhere does רבא learn this rule?