Sotah 31b

סוטה ל״א ע״ב

Learn Sotah 31b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How many witnesses are needed in a סוטה case, and how contradicting testimony about her defilement is handled

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a משנה. It suggests a קל וחומר that one witness should be enough for the first testimony, and then rejects it with a גזירה שוה on the word דבר, so two witnesses are needed. A new משנה then rules on witnesses who contradict each other about whether a סוטה was defiled. The גמרא explains that the word ״בָּהּ״ teaches that קינוי and סתירה need two witnesses, and that the דבר–דבר link teaches the same for plain טומאה with no warning or seclusion. From the משנה it learns that a single witness who is not contradicted is believed, and a ברייתא proves this from the rule that ״עד״ in the Torah means two unless the verse says ״אחד״. Since such a witness counts like two under עולא's rule, the גמרא asks how another single witness can contradict him. עולא and רבי יצחק change the wording to 'she would not drink.' רבי חייא keeps 'she would drink' and splits witnesses who testify together from witnesses who testify one after the other. Finally, the גמרא reads the whole משנה as dealing with people normally not accepted as witnesses, following רבי נחמיה's majority rule, and brings a second version of his view in which, once a valid witness came first, even a hundred women count as one.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ProofA logical argument that one witness should be enough for the first testimony
2. RejectionA verse shows that two witnesses are needed
3. StatementOne witness against one witness: she drinks
4. StatementUneven numbers of witnesses: the majority decides
5. ChallengeWhy not use the word ״בָּהּ״ instead?
6. ResolutionYes, ״בָּהּ״ is the source for קינוי and סתירה
7. QuestionWhat about plain טומאה with no warning or seclusion?
8. ResponseThe דָּבָר–דָּבָר link requires two witnesses
9. StatementLearning from the משנה that an uncontradicted single witness is believed
10. QuestionAsking for the source
11. ResponseThe verse speaks about two witnesses
12. QuestionMaybe it means even one witness
13. ProofProof from the verse about one witness
14. QuestionWhy does the verse add the word one?
15. ConclusionThe general rule: עד means two unless the Torah says one
16. ConclusionThe verse means one witness, and he forbids her
17. ChallengeHow can one witness contradict a witness the Torah believes?
18. Resolutionעולא changes the wording to 'she would not drink'
19. Statementרבי חייא keeps the wording 'she would drink'
20. Challengeעולא's rule challenges רבי חייא
21. ResolutionTestifying together versus one after the other
22. ChallengeThe first part of the משנה seems to refute רבי חייא
23. Rejectionרבי חייא answers that the second part of the משנה implies the opposite
24. ResolutionThe whole משנה deals with witnesses who are normally not accepted
25. Proofרבי נחמיה: follow the majority when one witness is believed
26. StatementAnother version: after one valid witness, even a hundred women count as one