Makkos 6b

מכות ו׳ ע״ב

Makkot 6b

Learn Makkos 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Makkos 6b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Witnesses who saw separately (עדות מיוחדת), who must give the התראה, and hearing testimony through an interpreter

Overview

The משנה teaches that two pairs of witnesses at two windows count as one testimony only if some of them can see each other. Otherwise they are two testimonies, so if one pair turns out to be עדים זוממין, the accused and that pair are executed while the other pair goes free. רבי יוסי adds that the witnesses themselves must give the התראה, and that the סנהדרין may not hear testimony through an interpreter. The גמרא learns from 'לא יומת על פי עד אחד' that עדות מיוחדת is invalid. It adds that even witnesses at one window who watched one after the other do not join, and אביי explains that this teaching is needed for the case of forbidden relations. רבא rules that the witnesses join if they see the מתרה or he sees them, and that the warning can come from anyone. רב נחמן says עדות מיוחדת is valid in money cases, but רב זוטרא raises a difficulty from the משנה that remains a קשיא. Finally, the גמרא shows that the רבי יוסי who does not require התראה for a שונא is really רבי יוסי בר יהודה. It also explains that רבא could use an interpreter because he understood the witnesses himself and needed help only to answer them.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. StatementWitnesses at two windows: one testimony or two?
2. StatementResult when one of the two sets is found lying
3. Statementרבי יוסי: the witnesses themselves must give the warning
4. StatementAnother reading: no testimony through an interpreter
5. Statementרב's source that separated testimony is invalid
6. Question'One witness' can't mean literally one
7. Response'One' means one here and one there
8. ProofA ברייתא supports this: two windows, can't see each other
9. StatementEven one after another at the same window doesn't join
10. ChallengeWhy did the ברייתא need the 'one after the other' case?
11. ResolutionThe case is needed for forbidden relations
12. StatementSeeing the person who warns connects the witnesses
13. StatementThe warning can come from anyone
14. Statementרב נחמן: separate witnesses work in money cases
15. Challengeרב זוטרא: then it should save in capital cases
16. ConclusionThe challenge stands
17. ChallengeDoes רבי יוסי really require a warning?
18. ResolutionThat statement belongs to a different רבי יוסי
19. ProofA ברייתא shows רבי יוסי בר יהודה does not always need a warning
20. StatementNo testimony through an interpreter
21. Statementרבא uses an interpreter for foreign speakers
22. ChallengeHow could רבא use an interpreter?
23. Resolutionרבא understood them but could not answer them