Commentary page

Bava Metzia 27a

This page gathers the commentary on one source unit: the classic commentaries as they are printed, the sources the text cites, the sages named in it and direct links back to the text.

Read the full text in the reader

Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Bava Metzia 27a

Bava Metzia 27a. The full printed text of this folio side — 24 numbered segments, about 464 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

בְּלוֹקֵחַ מִן הַתַּגָּר, אֲבָל בְּלוֹקֵחַ מִבַּעַל הַבַּיִת – חַיָּיב לְהַחְזִיר. וְכֵן תָּנֵי תַּנָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא בְּלוֹקֵחַ מִן הַתַּגָּר, אֲבָל בְּלוֹקֵחַ מִבַּעַל הַבַּיִת – חַיָּיב לְהַחְזִיר.

in the case of one who purchases produce from a merchant, who acquired the produce from several suppliers and is unable to determine the source of the coins. But in the case of one who purchases produce from a single owner, he is obligated to return the coins to the seller. And likewise, the tanna who recited mishnayot and baraitot in the study hall of Rav Naḥman taught a baraita before Rav Naḥman: The Sages taught that the coins belong to the buyer only in the case of one who purchases produce from a merchant, but in the case of one who purchases produce from a single owner, he is obligated to return the coins to the seller.

Segment 2

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן: וְכִי בַּעַל הַבַּיִת בְּעַצְמוֹ דָּשָׁן? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֶיסְמְיַהּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא, תִּתַּרְגַּם מַתְנִיתִין כְּגוֹן שֶׁדָּשָׁן עַל יְדֵי עַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הַכְּנַעֲנִים.

Rav Naḥman said to the tanna : But does the owner thresh the grain himself? His workers thresh the grain, and the coins could belong to one of them. The tanna said to Rav Naḥman: Based on the difficulty you raise, should I delete it from the collection of authoritative baraitot ? Rav Naḥman said to the tanna : No. Interpret the baraita as referring to a case where the grain was threshed by his Canaanite slave or maidservant, and therefore any coins found intermingled with the produce belong to the owner.

Segment 3

מַתְנִי׳ אַף הַשִּׂמְלָה הָיְתָה בִּכְלַל כׇּל אֵלּוּ, וְלָמָּה יָצָאת? לְהַקִּישׁ אֵלֶיהָ, לוֹמַר לְךָ: מָה שִׂמְלָה מְיוּחֶדֶת, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ סִימָנִין וְיֵשׁ לָהּ תּוֹבְעִין, אַף כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סִימָנִין וְיֵשׁ לוֹ תּוֹבְעִים חַיָּיב לְהַכְרִיז.

MISHNA: This mishna is an excerpt from a halakhic midrash concerning lost items, based on the verse: “You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep wandering, and disregard them; you shall return them to your brother…And so shall you do with his donkey; and so shall you do with his garment; and so shall you do with every lost item of your brother, which shall be lost from him, and you have found it; you may not disregard it” (Deuteronomy 22:1, 3). The garment was also included in the generalization that one must return all of these items. And why did it emerge from the generalization that it should be specified? To draw an analogy to it and to say to you: What is notable about a garment? It is notable in that there are distinguishing marks concerning it and it has claimants asserting ownership, and its finder is obligated to proclaim his find. So too with regard to any item concerning which there are distinguishing marks and it has claimants asserting ownership, its finder is obligated to proclaim his find.

Segment 4

גְּמָ׳ מַאי ״בִּכְלַל כׇּל אֵלּוּ״? אָמַר רָבָא: בִּכְלַל ״כׇּל אֲבֵדַת אָחִיךָ״.

GEMARA: When the mishna says that the garment was included in the generalization that one must return all of these items, in what generalization is it included? Rava said: It is included in the generalization: “And so shall you do with his donkey; and so shall you do with his garment; and so shall you do with every lost item of your brother, which shall be lost from him, and you have found it; you may not disregard it” (Deuteronomy 22:3).

Segment 5

אָמַר רָבָא: לְמָה לִי דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״שׁוֹר״, ״חֲמוֹר״, ״שֶׂה״ וְ״שִׂמְלָה״?

Rava says: Why do I need all the specific items that the Merciful One writes that one must return: An ox, a donkey, a sheep, and a garment? One of them would seem to suffice.

Segment 6

צְרִיכִי, דְּאִי כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא שִׂמְלָה, הֲוָה אָמֵינָא: הָנֵי מִילֵּי בְּעֵדִים דְּגוּפַהּ וְסִימָנִין דְּגוּפַהּ. אֲבָל חֲמוֹר בְּעֵדִים דְּאוּכָּף וְסִימָנִין דְּאוּכָּף, אֵימָא לָא מַהְדְּרִינַן לֵיהּ, כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״חֲמוֹר״ דַּאֲפִילּוּ חֲמוֹר בְּסִימָנֵי הָאוּכָּף.

Rava answers: They are all necessary, as a unique halakha is derived from each example. As, if the Merciful One had written only “garment,” I would say: This matter, i.e., the mitzva to return a lost item, applies only in a case where the owner brings witnesses capable of testifying about the item itself or he describes distinguishing marks concerning the item itself; but with regard to returning a donkey to its owner in a case where he brings witnesses with regard to the saddle or describes distinguishing marks concerning the saddle and not on the donkey, say that we do not return the donkey to the owner. To counter this, the Merciful One writes: “Donkey,” from which it is derived that a donkey is returned to its owner even in a case where he describes distinguishing marks on the saddle.

Segment 7

״שׁוֹר״ וָ״שֶׂה״, דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא לְמָה לִי? ״שׁוֹר״ – דַּאֲפִילּוּ לְגִיזַּת זְנָבוֹ, וְ״שֶׂה״ – לְגִיזּוֹתָיו. וְלִכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא ״שׁוֹר״, דַּאֲפִילּוּ לְגִיזַּת זְנָבוֹ, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן ״שֶׂה״ לְגִיזּוֹתָיו!

Rava continues: With regard to the specific mentions of “ox” and “sheep” that the Merciful One writes, why do I need them? Rava answers: From “ox” it is derived that one must return even the sheared wool of its tail; and from “sheep” it is derived that one must return even its sheared wool. The Gemara challenges: And let the Merciful One write only “ox,” from which it is derived that one must return even the sheared wool of its tail, and derive all the more so that one must return the more substantial sheared wool of a sheep.

Segment 8

אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: ״חֲמוֹר״ דְּבוֹר לְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה, וְ״שֶׂה״ דַאֲבֵידָה – לְדִבְרֵי הַכֹּל קַשְׁיָא.

Rather, Rava said: The term “donkey” stated with regard to damage in the category of Pit, according to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda (see Exodus 21:33 and Bava Kamma 54a), and the term “sheep” stated with regard to a lost item, according to the opinion of everyone, are difficult. There is no explanation for why they are stated.

Segment 9

וְאֵימָא לִגְלָלִים הוּא דַּאֲתָא? גְּלָלִים – אַפְקוֹרֵי מַפְקַר לְהוּ. וְדִילְמָא לְסִימָנִין הוּא דַּאֲתָא, דְּאִיבַּעְיָא לַן: סִימָנִין דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא אוֹ דְרַבָּנַן. כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״שֶׂה״, דַּאֲפִילּוּ בְּסִימָנִין מַהְדְּרִינַן, וְסִימָנִין דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא.

The Gemara suggests: And say that the term “sheep” comes to teach the obligation to return the animal’s dung? The Gemara answers: One need not return dung, because the owner has renounced its ownership. The Gemara suggests: And perhaps the term “sheep” comes to teach the obligation to return an item based on its owner providing distinguishing marks, as we raised a dilemma: Is the halakha that an item can be identified using distinguishing marks by Torah law or is it by rabbinic law? Therefore, the Merciful One writes: “Sheep” in order to teach that it is not only through the testimony of witnesses, but even based on distinguishing marks that we return lost items to their owner. Resolve the dilemma and conclude that the halakha that an item can be identified using distinguishing marks is by Torah law.

Segment 10

אָמְרִי: מִדְּקָתָנֵי לְהוּ תַּנָּא, לְסִימָנִין גַּבֵּי שִׂמְלָה, דְּקָתָנֵי: מָה שִׂמְלָה מְיוּחֶדֶת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ סִימָנִין וְיֵשׁ לָהּ תּוֹבְעִין – חַיָּיב לְהַכְרִיז, אַף כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סִימָנִין וְיֵשׁ לוֹ תּוֹבְעִין – חַיָּיב לְהַכְרִיז. שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ דְּ״שֶׂה״ לָאו לְסִימָנִין הוּא דַּאֲתָא.

The Gemara rejects this proof. The Sages say: One can understand the matter from the fact that the tanna teaches the concept of distinguishing marks together with the term garment. As it is taught in the mishna: What is notable about a garment? It is notable in that there are distinguishing marks concerning it and it has claimants asserting ownership, and its finder is obligated to proclaim his find. So too with regard to any item concerning which there are distinguishing marks and it has claimants asserting ownership, its finder is obligated to proclaim his find. Conclude from it that the term “sheep” does not come to teach the obligation to return an item based on its owner providing distinguishing marks.

Segment 11

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ – פְּרָט לַאֲבֵידָה שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ שָׁוֶה פְּרוּטָה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״ – פְּרָט לַאֲבֵידָה שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ שָׁוֶה פְּרוּטָה.

The Sages taught in a baraita : The verse states: “And so shall you do with his donkey; and so shall you do with his garment; and so shall you do with every lost item of your brother, which shall be lost from him, and you have found it” (Deuteronomy 22:3). The Rabbis derive that this phrase serves to exclude a lost item in which there is not the value of one peruta , which due to its negligible value is not considered lost. Rabbi Yehuda says that this halakha is derived from the conclusion of that verse: “Which shall be lost from him, and you have found it.” The term “and you have found it” serves to exclude a lost item in which there is not the value of one peruta .

Segment 12

מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: מַשְׁמָעוּת דּוֹרְשִׁין אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ. מָר נָפְקָא לֵיהּ מֵ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ וּמָר נָפְקָא לֵיהּ מִ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״.

The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between the two opinions? Ostensibly, the Rabbis and Rabbi Yehuda both state the same halakha . Abaye said: There is no practical difference. Rather, the interpretation of the meaning of the verse is the difference between them. One Sage, the Rabbis, derives it from the phrase: “Which shall be lost from him”; and one Sage, Rabbi Yehuda, derives it from the term: “And you have found it.”

Segment 13

וּלְמַאן דְּנָפְקָא לֵיהּ מֵ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ הַאי ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״ מַאי עָבֵיד לֵיהּ?

The Gemara asks: And according to the first Sage, the Rabbis, who derives the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta from the phrase “which shall be lost from him,” what does he do with the term: “And you have found it”?

Segment 14

הַהוּא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְכִדְרַבְנַאי, דְּאָמַר רַבְנַאי: ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״ – דַּאֲתַאי לִידֵיהּ מַשְׁמַע.

The Gemara answers: According to the Rabbis, that term is necessary for the derivation of the halakha in accordance with the opinion of Rabbenai. As Rabbenai says in interpreting the verse: “And so shall you do with every lost item of your brother’s, which he has lost, and you have found it” (Deuteronomy 22:3), that the term “and you have found it” means that it assumes the status of a found item only when it actually enters his possession.

Segment 15

וּלְמַאן דְּנָפְקָא לֵיהּ מִ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״, הַאי ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ מַאי עָבֵיד לֵיהּ?

The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Yehuda, who derives the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta from the term: “And you have found it,” what does he do with the phrase: “Which has been lost from him”?

Segment 16

מִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְכִדְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי: מִנַּיִין לַאֲבֵידָה שֶׁשְּׁטָפָהּ נָהָר שֶׁהִיא מוּתֶּרֶת? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה לְכׇל אֲבֵדַת אָחִיךָ אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד מִמֶּנּוּ וּמְצָאתָהּ״ – מִי שֶׁאֲבוּדָה הֵימֶנּוּ וּמְצוּיָה אֵצֶל כׇּל אָדָם, יָצְתָה זוֹ שֶׁאֲבוּדָה הֵימֶנּוּ וְאֵינָהּ מְצוּיָה אֵצֶל כׇּל אָדָם.

The Gemara answers: According to Rabbi Yehuda, that phrase is necessary for the derivation of the halakha in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan. As Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: From where is it derived with regard to a lost item that the river swept away that it is permitted for its finder to keep it? It is derived from this verse, as it is written: “And so shall you do with his donkey; and so shall you do with his garment; and so shall you do with every lost item of your brother, which shall be lost from him, and you have found it” (Deuteronomy 22:3). The verse states that one must return that which is lost from him, the owner, but is available to be found by any person. Excluded from that obligation is that which is lost from him and is not available to be found by any person; it is ownerless property and anyone who finds it may keep it.

Segment 17

וְאִידַּךְ, הָא דְּרַבְנַאי מְנָא לֵיהּ? נָפְקָא לֵיהּ מִ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״.

The Gemara asks: And the other tanna , Rabbi Yehuda, who derived from the term: “And you have found it,” that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta , from where does he derive the halakha of Rabbenai that the item assumes the status of a found item only when it actually comes into his possession? The Gemara answers: Rabbi Yehuda derives it from the superfluous conjunction “and” in the term “and you have found it.”

Segment 18

וְאִידַּךְ, הָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מְנָא לֵיהּ? נָפְקָא לֵיהּ ״מִמֶּנּוּ״. וְאִידָּךְ? ״מִמֶּנּוּ״ לָא מַשְׁמַע לֵיהּ.

The Gemara asks further: And the other tanna , the first tanna , who derives from the phrase “which shall be lost from him” that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta , from where do they derive the halakha of Rabbi Yoḥanan that one need not return an item that is lost from him and is not available to be found by every person? The Gemara answers: He derives it from the superfluous term “from him,” in the phrase “which shall be lost from him.” And as for the other tanna , Rabbi Yehuda, he does not learn anything from the term “from him.”

Segment 19

רָבָא אָמַר: פְּרוּטָה שֶׁהוּזְלָה אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, מַאן דְּאָמַר מֵ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ – אִיכָּא, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר מִ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״ – לֵיכָּא.

Abaye explained that there is no practical difference between the opinion of the first tanna and Rabbi Yehuda. By contrast, Rava said: The practical difference between them is with regard to an item that was worth one peruta when it was lost but that was then devalued and was worth less than one peruta when it was found. According to the one who says that the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta is derived from the phrase “which shall be lost from him,” there is an obligation to return the item, as that verse is referring to the value of the item when it was lost. And according to the one who says that the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta is derived from the phrase: “And you have found it,” there is no obligation to return the item, as that verse is referring to the value of the item when it is found.

Segment 20

וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ – הָא בָּעֵינַן ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״, וְלֵיכָּא!

The Gemara asks: But even according to the one who says that the halakha is derived from the phrase “which shall be lost from him,” do we not require the item to be worth one peruta when it is found, based on the term “and you have found it”? And in this case, it is not worth one peruta when it is found, so he should agree that it need not be returned.

Segment 21

אֶלָּא: פְּרוּטָה שֶׁהוּקְרָה אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, מַאן דְּאָמַר ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״ – אִיכָּא, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ – לֵיכָּא.

Rather, the practical difference between them is with regard to an item worth less than one peruta when it was lost that appreciated in value and is worth one peruta when it is found. According to the one who says that the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta is derived from the term: “And you have found it,” there is an obligation to return the item, as that verse is referring to its value when it is found. And according to the one who says that the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta is derived from the phrase: “Which shall be lost from him,” there is no obligation to return the item, as that verse is referring to the value of the item when it was lost.

Segment 22

וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״, הָא בָּעֵינַן ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ וְלֵיכָּא!

The Gemara asks: But even according to the one who says that the halakha is derived from the term “and you have found it,” do we not require the item to be worth one peruta when it is lost, based on the phrase “which shall be lost from him”? And in this case, it is not worth one peruta when it was lost, so he should agree that it need not be returned.

Segment 23

אֶלָּא פְּרוּטָה שֶׁהוּקְרָה וְהוּזְלָה וְחָזְרָה וְהוּקְרָה אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ. מַאן דְּאָמַר ״אֲשֶׁר תֹּאבַד״ – אִיכָּא. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״וּמְצָאתָהּ״ – בָּעֵינַן דְּאִית בַּהּ שִׁיעוּר מְצִיאָה מִשְּׁעַת אֲבֵידָה וְעַד שְׁעַת מְצִיאָה.

Rather, the practical difference between them is with regard to the case of an item worth one peruta when it was lost that appreciated in value and was devalued in the interim and was worth less than one peruta , and then appreciated in value and is worth one peruta when it is found. According to the one who says that the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta is derived from the phrase: “Which shall be lost from him,” there is an obligation to return the item, as the verse is referring to its value only when it was lost and when it is found. And according to the one who says that the halakha that one need not return a lost item worth less than one peruta is derived from: “And you have found it,” there is no obligation to return the item, as we require that there will be the value of one peruta , the requisite measure of a lost item, from the time of its loss and until the time of its finding, as the conjunction “and” connects the time of the finding to the time of the loss.

Segment 24

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: סִימָנִין דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא אוֹ דְרַבָּנַן? מַאי נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ?

§ A dilemma was raised before the Sages: Is identification of an item on the basis of distinguishing marks by Torah law or is it by rabbinic law? The Gemara asks: What difference is there whether it is by Torah law or by rabbinic law?

Bava Metzia 27a

Bava Metzia 27a

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Maharam

Shita Mekubetzet

Penei Yehoshua

Gilyon HaShas

Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger

What this page contains

Continue the sequence

Parallel sources

Lessons and study tools

Sages named on this page

Original text