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Kiddushin 4b

קידושין ד׳ ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 4b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The sources for קידושי כסף and קידושי ביאה, and why the תורה writes a פסוק when a קל וחומר seems to prove the same law

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an answer: the extra words 'ויצאה חנם' teach that even an איילונית can be sold as a maidservant and goes free at בגרות. The גמרא then explains that we only say 'the תורה just wrote out a קל וחומר' when no new lesson can be found in the words. Next, a ברייתא learns קידושי כסף from the word 'כי יקח' in the פסוק about divorce, linked to 'קח' when אברהם bought the field from עפרון. The ברייתא asks why a פסוק is needed when a קל וחומר from an אמה העבריה seems to prove the same thing. רב אשי answers that the קל וחומר is weak from its very start, because money can free a maidservant but can never end a marriage. The גמרא then shows why the תורה needed both 'ויצאה חנם' and 'כי יקח'. Finally, the ברייתא learns from 'ובעלה' that ביאה makes קידושין. רב אשי again explains why the פסוק is needed: the קל וחומר from יבמה fails, since a יבמה is already bound to the יבם and an ordinary woman is not.

Opening lines

קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן

It teaches us

״וְיָצְאָה חִנָּם כּוּ׳״.

'Then she shall go out for nothing,' etc.

וּלְמָר בַּר רַב אָשֵׁי, דְּאָמַר:

And according to Mar bar Rav Ashi, who said:

וְלָאו קַל וָחוֹמֶר הוּא,

'But isn't it a kal vachomer?'

The steps (23)

  1. ResolutionThe extra words 'ויצאה חנם' teach a new law
  2. ChallengeDoesn't the תורה sometimes write out what a קל וחומר already proves?
  3. ResolutionThat rule is only used when there is no other answer
  4. StatementA ברייתא learns קידושי כסף from 'כי יקח'
  5. ProofProof that 'taking' means money, from אברהם's field
  6. ChallengeWhy do we need a פסוק? A קל וחומר from an אמה העבריה
  7. RejectionA יבמה seems to break the קל וחומר
  8. RejectionThe יבמה is different because a שטר does not work for her
  9. ConclusionThe ברייתא still brings the פסוק
  10. ChallengeWhy is the פסוק needed if the קל וחומר works?
  11. Resolutionרב אשי: the קל וחומר was flawed from the start
  12. ResolutionA maidservant can go free with money, but a wife cannot
  13. StatementWhy the תורה needed both פסוקים
  14. StatementWhy 'ויצאה חנם' alone would not be enough
  15. StatementThe source that a woman can be married through ביאה
  16. ChallengeA קל וחומר from יבמה seems to make the פסוק unneeded
  17. Rejectionאמה העבריה seems to break the קל וחומר
  18. Rejectionאמה העבריה is different because she is not acquired for marriage
  19. ConclusionThe ברייתא still brings the פסוק 'ובעלה'
  20. ChallengeWhy is a פסוק needed if the קל וחומר works?
  21. Resolutionרב אשי: the קל וחומר is weak because it starts from יבמה
  22. RejectionA יבמה is already bound, so she cannot be the source
  23. ConclusionSo the source is the פסוק 'ובעלה'