Sanhedrin 54b

סנהדרין נ״ד ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 54b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 54b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The warnings for משכב זכור and בהמה for both partners, how many prohibitions are counted under each view, and the minimum age for a male

Overview

The גמרא finds the אזהרה for משכב זכור, first for the active partner (שוכב) and then for the passive partner (נשכב). רבי ישמעאל learns the passive warning from 'לא יהיה קדש', while רבי עקיבא reads 'לא תשכב' a second way as 'לא תשכב' (do not be lain with). Next, a ברייתא builds the full set of sources for lying with a בהמה: the punishment is סקילה, learned from the מסית; the passive partner's punishment comes through 'אם אינו ענין'; and the warnings for both partners follow, again with רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא using different פסוקים. רבי אבהו and אביי then count how many prohibitions someone breaks when he does several of these acts at once, since two different פסוקים mean two prohibitions. Finally, a ברייתא says a young animal counts like a grown one but a young male does not. רב sets the age line at nine and שמואל at three, and a ברייתא supporting רב begins, continuing on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. QuestionWe know the punishment, but where is the warning?
2. ResponseThe warning comes from the verse 'Do not lie with a male'
3. QuestionThat covers the active partner. What about the passive partner?
4. Responseרבי ישמעאל: the warning comes from the verse about a קדש
5. Statementרבי עקיבא: read the same verse as 'do not be lain with'
6. QuestionWhere do we learn the law of lying with an animal?
7. ResponseA ברייתא: 'man' excludes a minor, and any animal is included
8. Statement'He shall surely be put to death' means stoning
9. QuestionWhy stoning and not another death penalty?
10. ResponseLearning stoning from the מסית
11. QuestionWhere is the punishment for the passive partner?
12. ResponseAn unneeded פסוק is moved to the passive partner
13. QuestionWhere is the warning?
14. ResponseThe warning for the active partner
15. QuestionWhere is the warning for the passive partner?
16. ResponseThe קדש verses warn the passive partner, says רבי ישמעאל
17. Responseרבי עקיבא's different source for the passive partner's warning
18. QuestionThe case of someone who is both active and passive with a male
19. Responseרבי אבהו: two prohibitions for רבי ישמעאל, one for רבי עקיבא (with a male)
20. QuestionThe same case with an animal
21. Responseרבי אבהו: two prohibitions for רבי ישמעאל, one for רבי עקיבא (with an animal)
22. Rejectionאביי: Even רבי ישמעאל counts only one in the animal case
23. ChallengeThen where does רבי ישמעאל get the warning for the passive partner with an animal?
24. ResolutionThe source is the punishment verse, used through אם אינו ענין
25. ResolutionHow a punishment verse also gives a warning
26. QuestionNew case: passive with a male and passive with an animal
27. Responseרבי אבהו: רבי עקיבא counts two, רבי ישמעאל counts one
28. Responseאביי: Even for רבי ישמעאל He Is Liable Twice
29. ConclusionA Case Where Both Views Agree: Three Versus Two
30. Statementברייתא: A Young Male Is Not Like an Older One, but a Young Animal Is Like a Grown One
31. QuestionWhat Does 'Young Not Like Older' Mean?
32. Responseרב: The Cutoff Is Nine Years
33. Responseשמואל: The Cutoff Is Three Years
34. QuestionWhat is the root of the argument between רב and שמואל?
35. Responseרב: the passive partner follows the active partner's rule
36. Responseשמואל: the פסוק compares the passive male to a woman
37. ProofA ברייתא that supports רב begins