Sanhedrin 60b

סנהדרין ס׳ ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 60b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 60b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which acts of עבודה זרה bring the death penalty, the sources for them from the פסוקים, and whether slaughtering or bowing is the model for the whole category.

Overview

The משנה lists the acts of עבודה זרה that bring סקילה: worshipping, slaughtering, burning incense, pouring a libation, bowing, accepting an idol as a god, or calling it 'my god.' Acts of honor like hugging, kissing, or dressing an idol, and vowing or swearing in its name, are only a לא תעשה. Degrading acts that are an idol's normal worship, like defecating before בעל פעור or throwing a stone at מרקוליס, count as real worship. רבי ירמיה explains that worship in an idol's usual way makes a person liable, and the four Temple-style acts make a person liable for any idol, even when they are not its usual way. אביי adds that sprinkling blood is included in pouring a libation. A ברייתא finds sources for all four acts. It teaches that slaughtering is the model, so only Temple services bring death, while bowing is a separate case with its own פסוק. The גמרא explains why the ברייתא raised slaughtering קדשים outside the Temple, which brings only כרת. Then רבא בר רב חנן challenges אביי, suggesting that bowing could be the model instead, with זובח teaching that intent can carry over from one service to another. The amud ends as the גמרא begins citing רבי יוחנן on that case, and his ruling continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementThe acts of idol worship that carry the death penalty
2. StatementActs of honor and vows that are only a prohibition
3. StatementDegrading acts that are the idol's normal worship
4. QuestionWhat does 'one who worships' add?
5. Responseרבי ירמיה: worshipping in its usual way, plus four acts even when unusual
6. ChallengeWhy isn't sprinkling blood on the list?
7. Resolutionאביי: sprinkling counts as pouring
8. QuestionWhat is the source for this rule?
9. ResponseThe ברייתא: the פסוק is about slaughtering to an idol
10. QuestionWhat about burning and pouring?
11. ResponseEvery Temple service belongs to ה׳ alone
12. QuestionHow is bowing included?
13. ResponseBowing learned from two פסוקים side by side
14. QuestionWe have the punishment, but where is the warning?
15. ResponseThe warning: do not bow to another god
16. QuestionMaybe hugging, kissing, and dressing an idol are included too
17. ResponseThe word "slaughters" rules them out
18. StatementWhy slaughtering was singled out: only Temple services bring death
19. ConclusionBowing is its own case; slaughtering sets the rule for the rest
20. ChallengeSlaughtering קדשים outside the Temple is כרת, not death
21. ResolutionThe ברייתא needed to rule out the death penalty even with a warning
22. ChallengeMaybe bowing is the model for all forms of worship
23. ChallengeThen זובח teaches its own lesson about intent
24. ProofBringing a source: רבי יוחנן on slaughtering with intent for another service