Yevamos 55a

יבמות נ״ה ע״א

Yevamot 55a

Learn Yevamos 55a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The sources for the scope of אחות אשתו and אשת אח, the extra punishments written for specific עריות, and when הַעֲרָאָה counts as a forbidden act.

Overview

The גמרא notes that our משנה forbids a wife's sister whether she shares a father or a mother with the wife. After weighing a comparison to אחותו against one to דודתו, it learns the rule from אשת אח, which matches on both points. A ברייתא then proves that אשת אח itself applies to a brother from either parent: two logical comparisons cancel out, so the extra words ״עֶרְוַת אָחִיךָ הִיא״ decide it. The גמרא defends that reading against attempts to use those words for other cases. It also learns from the word ״הִיא״ that a maternal brother's wife stays forbidden even after her husband dies. Next it explains why the תורה spells out כרת for a sister, and ״עֲרִירִים״ for an aunt. Last, it asks where we learn that הַעֲרָאָה, the first stage of relations, counts for ordinary לאוין and for the לאוין of כהונה. The source for prohibitions that come from an עשה is asked at the end and answered on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. StatementThe משנה implies a wife's sister is forbidden from either parent
2. QuestionAsking for the source
3. ResponseLearned from one's own sister
4. ChallengeWhy not learn from the aunt instead?
5. ResolutionHis own relatives fit better
6. ChallengeOn the contrary: the aunt matches through marriage
7. ConclusionThe answer: learn from a brother's wife
8. QuestionHow do we know a brother's wife applies on both sides?
9. ResponseA ברייתא on the פסוק
10. QuestionDoes a brother's wife include a brother from the mother?
11. ProofLogic: compare to his sister
12. ChallengeOr compare to his aunt instead
13. ResolutionHis sister is closer: both are his own relatives
14. ChallengeHis aunt is closer: both come through marriage
15. ConclusionThe פסוק settles it: both kinds of brother
16. ChallengeMaybe both halves of the verse are about a paternal brother's wife
17. ResolutionThe childless case during the husband's life is already known from רב הונא
18. ChallengeMaybe the halves cover a woman with children before and after her husband's death
19. ResolutionThe case after death is inferred from the permission of יבום
20. RejectionThe יבום permission might imply something else
21. RejectionMaybe the widow with children is forbidden only by a weak prohibition
22. ResolutionAnother verse already teaches the full prohibition
23. ChallengeShould a maternal brother's wife be permitted after his death?
24. ResolutionThe word "היא" keeps her forbidden
25. ChallengeWhy is כרת written separately for one's sister?
26. ResolutionThe sister's separate כרת teaches liability for each forbidden relation
27. ChallengeHow does רבי יצחק learn that each ערוה is separate?
28. Resolutionרבי יצחק learns it from the פסוק about a נדה
29. ChallengeWhy does the תורה write 'childless' about an aunt?
30. Resolutionרבה reconciles two 'childless' פסוקים
31. ResolutionWhy both childlessness phrases are needed
32. QuestionWhere do we learn that the first stage of relations counts for ordinary prohibitions?
33. ResponseProof from the designated maidservant
34. ChallengeOn the contrary: maybe ordinary prohibitions need a complete act
35. Resolutionרב אשי: then the maidservant verse would be unnecessary
36. QuestionWhat is the source for prohibitions special to priests?
37. ResponseLearned from the word 'taking' in both places
38. QuestionWhat is the source for prohibitions that come from a positive command?