Sanhedrin 57a

סנהדרין נ״ז ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 57a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which מצוות of בני נח come from which פסוק, which ones carry the death penalty for a בן נח, and what the ברייתא means by acts 'similar to' robbery, יפת תואר and bloodshed

Overview

The גמרא finishes listing the sources of דבי מנשה for the מצוות of בני נח, such as עבודה זרה, גילוי עריות, שפיכות דמים, גזל, אבר מן החי, סירוס and כלאים. After each one it shows how the other view reads the same פסוק for a different lesson. Next it asks for which מצוות a בן נח is put to death. רב יוסף says three. רב ששת attacks that list and says four, adding עבודה זרה, and רב נחמן בר יצחק explains that for a בן נח 'their warning is their death.' רב's students say a בן נח is killed for all seven. The גמרא tests that view against a ברייתא about robbery that uses the words 'forbidden' and 'permitted.' It then asks what the ברייתא means by acts 'similar to robbery.' After two answers are rejected, it settles on withholding a worker's wages. It also explains 'similar to יפת תואר' as a maidservant set aside for a slave. Finally it notes that no 'similar to bloodshed' case is taught, and אביי links such a case to רבי יונתן בן שאול, whose teaching continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. ProofThe word 'corruption' points to idolatry and forbidden relations
2. ProofProof that 'corruption' means each of these two sins
3. ResponseThe other view reads the flood verse as only describing behavior
4. ProofSource for the ban on murder
5. ResponseThe other view reads the murder verse as giving the punishment
6. ProofSource for the ban on robbery
7. ResponseThe other view reads the herbs verse as allowing meat
8. ProofSource for the ban on a limb from a living animal
9. ResponseThe other view uses the verse to permit a limb from living creeping creatures
10. ProofSource for the ban on castration
11. ResponseThe other view reads it as only a blessing
12. ProofSource for the ban on mixing species
13. ResponseThe other view says it was only for companionship
14. StatementA בן נח is executed for only three מצוות
15. Challengeרב ששת asks for the source of the other two death penalties
16. ChallengeAny possible source would prove too much
17. Statementרב ששת's version: four מצוות
18. ChallengeA ברייתא seems to give only a warning for עבודה זרה
19. ResolutionFor a בן נח, the warning is the death penalty
20. Statementרב's students: a בן נח is killed for all seven מצוות
21. ChallengeChallenge: a ברייתא calls robbery only 'forbidden' for a בן נח
22. ResolutionThe ברייתא said 'forbidden' only to match 'permitted'
23. ChallengePushback: the same ברייתא does say 'liable' and 'exempt' for murder
24. ResolutionMurder could not be described as forbidden versus permitted
25. QuestionWhat counts as 'similar to robbery'?
26. Responseרב אחא בר יעקב: a worker in a vineyard
27. ChallengeThe vineyard worker is either allowed or simply stealing
28. Responseרב פפא: stealing less than a פרוטה
29. ChallengeBut people forgive such small amounts
30. ResolutionHe is still upset at the moment it is taken
31. ChallengeThe less-than-a-coin answer fails for a gentile robbing a gentile
32. ResponseNew answer: withholding a worker's wages
33. QuestionWhat is 'similar to יפת תואר'?
34. Responseרב דימי: the maidservant set aside for a slave
35. StatementNo 'similar to bloodshed' case is taught
36. Responseאביי: such a teaching would follow רבי יונתן בן שאול
37. ProofThe source: someone who could stop a pursuer by injuring a limb