Sanhedrin 69a

סנהדרין ס״ט ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 69a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 69a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether a קטן can father a child, the three-month בן סורר ומורה window, and whether we follow the majority in דיני נפשות

Overview

The amud opens by finishing רבה's proof from the word ״אִישׁ״ that a קטן cannot father a child. אביי objects that a nine-year-old counts as a 'man' for relations, and רבה answers that his seed is like unripe grain that cannot grow. A teaching from דבי חזקיה backs רבה, and the פסוק about יעקב cooking a stew shows that מֵזִיד can mean heating. The גמרא then challenges רבה from the rule that a בן סורר ומורה must be a ״בֵּן״ and not a father, since the three-month window seems too short for a child to be both conceived and born in it. The answer is that a boy whose wife has conceived is already 'fit to be called a father.' Next the גמרא explains רבי כרוספדאי's three-month rule: the period ends at three months or when the beard surrounds, whichever comes first. רבי יעקב מנהר פקוד draws from this a lesson about seven-month pregnancies, and רבינא pushes it off by saying the rule follows the majority. That opens a debate over whether we follow the majority in דיני נפשות, and רבינא and רבי ירמיה מדפתי bring two משניות to show that we do. The explanation of the second משנה continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ProofThe word 'man' shows a minor convert has no relatives
2. Challengeאביי objects: a nine-year-old is counted like a man
3. Resolutionרבה: he has seed, but it cannot produce a child
4. ProofSupport from דבי חזקיה: only a man produces viable seed
5. Questionרב מרדכי asks: how do we know מֵזִיד means heating?
6. ResponseThe source: יעקב cooked a stew
7. ChallengeA teaching that a son, not a father, can be a rebellious son
8. ChallengeThe only way he could be a father is as a minor
9. RejectionMaybe he became a father only after the window
10. ResolutionBeing fit to be called a father is enough
11. StatementThe rule itself: the rebellious son period is only three months
12. ChallengeBut the משנה measures by body signs, not time
13. ResolutionWhichever comes first ends the period
14. StatementA lesson about seven-month pregnancies drawn from the three-month rule
15. ProofWhy the three-month limit proves this
16. Rejectionרבינא: the rule follows most women
17. ChallengeIn capital cases we cannot just follow the majority
18. Resolutionרבינא answers: we do follow the majority in capital cases
19. ProofWhy the witnesses' testimony proves we follow the majority
20. ProofA second proof from the girl of three years and one day