← Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
How do you say "most" in Babylonian Aramaic?
The Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud says רוּבָּא (rubbā), "the majority, the greater part, most". You have met it already in the law: בָּטֵל בְּרוּבָּא, "nullified in the majority" (27.28), and אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא, "we follow the majority" (30.24, 36.25). In this lesson the word is the subject itself.
The English learner should notice four things at once.
First, רוּבָּא is a noun, not an adjective. English "most" stands before a noun: "most people". Aramaic says "the majority of people": רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי (69.1). The little word דְּ-, "of", joins them, as in יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי in lesson 68.
Second, "most of it" takes an ending. As כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא is "all of the day" (lesson 68), so רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא is "most of the day", word for word "its majority, of the day" (69.4). The ending agrees with the noun: רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא, "most of the year" (69.9), for שַׁתָּא is feminine; רוּבַּיְיהוּ, "most of them" (69.11).
Third, the opposite is מִיעוּטָא (miʿūṭā), "the minority, the few". The two words are a pair in the Gemara's reasoning: does one follow the majority, or must one worry about the minority?
Fourth, "most" as in "the most" has no special form. Aramaic, like Hebrew, has no superlative ending. "He studies the most" is said "he studies more than all of them": גָּרֵיס טְפֵי מִכּוּלְּהוּ (69.15). This lesson teaches רוּבָּא, the "most" of quantity, and shows the other "most" in Section D.
The word comes from the root r-b-b, "to be great, to be many", the root of רַב, "master", and רַבָּנַן, "the rabbis". In the same verse that the Gemara cites for the rule of the majority, Exodus 23:2, the Hebrew word for "the many" is רַבִּים, from the same root (Section F).
In this lesson the romanisation follows a simple academic scheme: ʾ for א, ʿ for ע, ḥ for ח, ṭ for ט, ṣ for צ, q for ק, sh for שׁ, kh for soft כ, v for soft ב, f for soft פ, w for consonantal ו; long vowels are marked with a macron (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū), and ə stands for the short vowel shewa.
- רוּבָּא (rubbā) = "the majority, most"; plural רוּבֵּי (rubbē) = "majorities" - "Most people" = רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי, "the majority of people" - "Most of the day" = רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא; "most of the year" = רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא; "most of them" = רוּבַּיְיהוּ - מִיעוּטָא (miʿūṭā) = "the minority", the opposite of רוּבָּא - זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא = "follow the majority" - "The most" = טְפֵי מִכּוּלְּהוּ, "more than all of them"
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The sentences of Sections A to C and of the Genre Section are written for this lesson; they are not quotations from the Talmud, except these: 69.2 is a phrase of the Gemara (Chullin 11a), and 69.10 and 69.12 are sentences of the Gemara (Ketubot 15a), all as in the William Davidson edition on Sefaria. 69.14 is modelled on a formula the Gemara uses of Rabbi Meir.
69.1a רוּבָּא the-majority דְּאִינָשֵׁי of-people
69.1b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-ʾīnāshē (d'-ee-naa-SHAY) of-person-M.PL
69.2a זִיל go בָּתַר after רוּבָּא the-majority
69.2b zīl (ZEEL) go-IMPV.M.SG bātar (baa-TAR) after rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH
69.3a רוּבָּא the-majority דְּתַלְמִידֵי of-the-students אֲתוֹ came
69.3b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-talmīdē (d'-tal-mee-DAY) of-student-M.PL ʾătō (a-TOH) come-PERF.3M.PL
69.4a רוּבֵּיהּ its-majority דְּיוֹמָא of-the-day
69.4b rubbēh (rub-BAYH) majority-its-M də-yōmā (d'-yoh-MAA) of-day-M.SG.EMPH
69.5a רוּבָּא the-majority וְלָא and-not מִיעוּטָא the-minority
69.5b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH wə-lā (v'-LAA) and-not miʿūṭā (mi-oo-TAA) minority-M.SG.EMPH
69.6a רוּבָּא the-majority דְּרַבָּנַן of-the-rabbis יָתְבִי sit בְּבֵי in-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study
69.6b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-rabbānan (d'-rab-BAA-nan) of-rabbi-M.PL yātvī (yaat-VEE) sit-PTCP.M.PL bə-vē (b'-VAY) in-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH
69.7a רוּבֵּיהּ its-majority דְּיוֹמָא of-the-day יָתֵיב he-sits וְגָרֵיס and-studies
69.7b rubbēh (rub-BAYH) majority-its-M də-yōmā (d'-yoh-MAA) of-day-M.SG.EMPH yātēv (yaa-TAYV) sit-PTCP.M.SG wə-gārēs (v'-gaa-RAYS) and-study-PTCP.M.SG
69.8a רוּבָּא the-majority דְּאִינָשֵׁי of-the-people דְּהַאי of-this מָתָא town יְהוּדָאֵי Jews נִינְהוּ they-are
69.8b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-ʾīnāshē (d'-ee-naa-SHAY) of-person-M.PL də-hay (d'-HAI) of-this mātā (maa-TAA) town-F.SG.EMPH yəhūdāʾē (y'-hoo-daa-AY) Jew-M.PL nīnhū (NEEN-hoo) they-are-3M.PL
69.9a רוּבַּהּ its-majority דְּשַׁתָּא of-the-year הֲוָה he-was יָתֵיב sitting בְּתַעֲנִיתָא in-a-fast
69.9b rubbah (rub-BAH) majority-its-F də-shattā (d'-shat-TAA) of-year-F.SG.EMPH hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG yātēv (yaa-TAYV) sit-PTCP.M.SG bə-taʿănītā (b'-ta-a-nee-TAA) in-fast-F.SG.EMPH
69.10a וּמִי and-is-it-so-that בָּעֵינַן we-need תְּרֵי two רוּבֵּי majorities
69.10b ū-mī (oo-MEE) and-QUESTION bāʿēnan (baa-AY-nan) need-PTCP.1PL tərē (t'-RAY) two-M rubbē (rub-BAY) majority-M.PL
69.11a רוּבַּיְיהוּ most-of-them דְּתַלְמִידֵי of-the-students אֲזַלוּ went לְבֵיתַיְיהוּ to-their-houses וּמִיעוּטַיְיהוּ and-the-few-of-them יְתִיבוּ stayed בְּבֵי in-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study
69.11b rubbayhū (rub-bai-HOO) majority-their də-talmīdē (d'-tal-mee-DAY) of-student-M.PL ʾăzalū (a-za-LOO) go-PERF.3M.PL lə-vētayhū (l'-vay-tai-HOO) to-house-their ū-miʿūṭayhū (oo-mi-oo-tai-HOO) and-minority-their yətīvū (y'-tee-VOO) sit-PERF.3M.PL bə-vē (b'-VAY) in-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH
69.12a כֹּל whatever דְּפָרֵישׁ that-separates מֵרוּבָּא from-the-majority פָּרֵישׁ separates
69.12b kol (KOL) every də-pārēsh (d'-paa-RAYSH) that-separate-PTCP.M.SG mē-rubbā (may-rub-BAA) from-majority-M.SG.EMPH pārēsh (paa-RAYSH) separate-PTCP.M.SG
69.13a אִי if רוּבָּא the-majority אָמְרִי say הָכִי thus הִלְכְתָא the-law כְּוָותַיְיהוּ like-them
69.13b ʾī (EE) if rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH ʾāmrī (aam-REE) say-PTCP.M.PL hākhī (haa-KHEE) thus hilkhətā (hil-kh'-TAA) law-F.SG.EMPH kəwātayhū (k'-waa-tai-HOO) like-them
69.14a רַבִּי Rabbi מֵאִיר Meir חָיֵישׁ is-concerned לְמִיעוּטָא for-the-minority וְרַבָּנַן and-the-rabbis אָזְלִי go בָּתַר after רוּבָּא the-majority
69.14b Rabbī (rab-BEE) Rabbi Mēʾīr (may-EER) Meir ḥāyēsh (khaa-YAYSH) be.concerned-PTCP.M.SG lə-miʿūṭā (l'-mi-oo-TAA) for-minority-M.SG.EMPH wə-rabbānan (v'-rab-BAA-nan) and-rabbi-M.PL ʾāzlī (aaz-LEE) go-PTCP.M.PL bātar (baa-TAR) after rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH
69.15a רוּבָּא the-majority דְּתַלְמִידֵי of-the-students גָּרְסִי study בְּצַפְרָא in-the-morning וְרַבָּה and-Rabbah גָּרֵיס studies טְפֵי more מִכּוּלְּהוּ than-all-of-them
69.15b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-talmīdē (d'-tal-mee-DAY) of-student-M.PL gārsī (gaar-SEE) study-PTCP.M.PL bə-ṣafrā (b'-tsaf-RAA) in-morning-M.SG.EMPH wə-Rabbā (v'-RAB-baa) and-Rabbah gārēs (gaa-RAYS) study-PTCP.M.SG ṭəfē (t'-FAY) more mik-kulləhū (mik-kul-l'-HOO) from-all-of-them
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
69.1 רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי. — rubbā də-ʾīnāshē. — "Most people."
69.2 זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא. — zīl bātar rubbā. — "Follow the majority."
69.3 רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲתוֹ. — rubbā də-talmīdē ʾătō. — "Most of the students came."
69.4 רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא. — rubbēh də-yōmā. — "Most of the day."
69.5 רוּבָּא וְלָא מִיעוּטָא. — rubbā wə-lā miʿūṭā. — "The majority, and not the minority."
69.6 רוּבָּא דְּרַבָּנַן יָתְבִי בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא. — rubbā də-rabbānan yātvī bə-vē midrəshā. — "Most of the rabbis are sitting in the study house."
69.7 רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא יָתֵיב וְגָרֵיס. — rubbēh də-yōmā yātēv wə-gārēs. — "For most of the day he sits and studies."
69.8 רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי דְּהַאי מָתָא יְהוּדָאֵי נִינְהוּ. — rubbā də-ʾīnāshē də-hay mātā yəhūdāʾē nīnhū. — "Most of the people of this town are Jews."
69.9 רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּתַעֲנִיתָא. — rubbah də-shattā hăwā yātēv bə-taʿănītā. — "For most of the year he used to fast."
69.10 וּמִי בָּעֵינַן תְּרֵי רוּבֵּי? — ū-mī bāʿēnan tərē rubbē? — "And do we need two majorities?"
69.11 רוּבַּיְיהוּ דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲזַלוּ לְבֵיתַיְיהוּ, וּמִיעוּטַיְיהוּ יְתִיבוּ בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא. — rubbayhū də-talmīdē ʾăzalū lə-vētayhū, ū-miʿūṭayhū yətīvū bə-vē midrəshā. — "Most of the students went home, and a few of them stayed in the study house."
69.12 כֹּל דְּפָרֵישׁ, מֵרוּבָּא פָּרֵישׁ. — kol də-pārēsh, mē-rubbā pārēsh. — "Whatever has separated has separated from the majority."
69.13 אִי רוּבָּא אָמְרִי הָכִי, הִלְכְתָא כְּוָותַיְיהוּ. — ʾī rubbā ʾāmrī hākhī, hilkhətā kəwātayhū. — "If the majority say so, the law is as they say."
69.14 רַבִּי מֵאִיר חָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא, וְרַבָּנַן אָזְלִי בָּתַר רוּבָּא. — Rabbī Mēʾīr ḥāyēsh lə-miʿūṭā, wə-rabbānan ʾāzlī bātar rubbā. — "Rabbi Meir takes the minority into account, and the rabbis follow the majority."
69.15 רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי גָּרְסִי בְּצַפְרָא, וְרַבָּה גָּרֵיס טְפֵי מִכּוּלְּהוּ. — rubbā də-talmīdē gārsī bə-ṣafrā, wə-Rabbā gārēs ṭəfē mik-kulləhū. — "Most of the students study in the morning, and Rabbah studies the most of all."
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
69.1 רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי.
69.2 זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא.
69.3 רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲתוֹ.
69.4 רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא.
69.5 רוּבָּא וְלָא מִיעוּטָא.
69.6 רוּבָּא דְּרַבָּנַן יָתְבִי בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא.
69.7 רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא יָתֵיב וְגָרֵיס.
69.8 רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי דְּהַאי מָתָא יְהוּדָאֵי נִינְהוּ.
69.9 רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּתַעֲנִיתָא.
69.10 וּמִי בָּעֵינַן תְּרֵי רוּבֵּי?
69.11 רוּבַּיְיהוּ דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲזַלוּ לְבֵיתַיְיהוּ, וּמִיעוּטַיְיהוּ יְתִיבוּ בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא.
69.12 כֹּל דְּפָרֵישׁ, מֵרוּבָּא פָּרֵישׁ.
69.13 אִי רוּבָּא אָמְרִי הָכִי, הִלְכְתָא כְּוָותַיְיהוּ.
69.14 רַבִּי מֵאִיר חָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא, וְרַבָּנַן אָזְלִי בָּתַר רוּבָּא.
69.15 רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי גָּרְסִי בְּצַפְרָא, וְרַבָּה גָּרֵיס טְפֵי מִכּוּלְּהוּ.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
1. The forms of the noun. רוּבָּא is a masculine noun, used in the emphatic state with -ā:
- רוּבָּא (rubbā), "the majority, most" (69.1, 69.2 and throughout) - רוּבֵּי (rubbē), "majorities" (69.10) - מֵרוּבָּא (mē-rubbā), "from the majority" (69.12, 69.25); בְּרוּבָּא, "in the majority" (lesson 27.28)
The doubled b (the dot in בּ) comes from the root r-b-b: the two b's of the root are written as one letter with a dagesh.
2. "Most of …" with דְּ-. English "most" stands before the noun; Aramaic puts the noun after רוּבָּא with דְּ-, "of":
- רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי, "most people" (69.1, 69.8) - רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי, "most of the students" (69.3, 69.15) - רוּבָּא דְּרַבָּנַן, "most of the rabbis" (69.6) - רוּבָּא דְּטַבָּחֵי, "most of the butchers" (69.24)
3. The verb agrees with the people, not with the word. רוּבָּא is singular, but when it means "most of the students" the verb is plural, because the students are many: רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲתוֹ, "most of the students came" (69.3); רוּבָּא דְּרַבָּנַן יָתְבִי (69.6); אִי רוּבָּא אָמְרִי הָכִי (69.13).
4. "Most of it", "most of them". As with כּוּלֵּהּ, "all of it" (lesson 68, rule 6), the noun takes a pronoun ending that points ahead to the noun after דְּ-:
- רוּבֵּיהּ (rubbēh), "most of it", for a masculine noun: רוּבֵּיהּ דְּיוֹמָא, "most of the day" (69.4, 69.7) - רוּבַּהּ (rubbah), "most of it", for a feminine noun: רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא, "most of the year" (69.9) - רוּבַּיְיהוּ (rubbayhū), "most of them": רוּבַּיְיהוּ דְּתַלְמִידֵי, "most of the students" (69.11)
Compare כּוּלַּהּ שַׁתָּא, "the whole year" (68.11), and רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא, "most of the year" (69.9).
5. The minority. מִיעוּטָא (miʿūṭā), "the minority, the few", is the opposite of רוּבָּא, and takes the same endings: מִיעוּטַיְיהוּ, "the few of them" (69.11). חָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא, "he is concerned for the minority", that is, he takes the rare case into account (69.14, 69.30).
6. "Follow the majority". The Gemara's phrase is זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא, "go after the majority" (69.2, 69.23): זִיל is the command "go!", and בָּתַר is "after". In a statement it becomes אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא, "we go after the majority" (lesson 36.25; 69.27, 69.29); the order בָּתַר רוּבָּא אָזְלִינַן is also found (lesson 30.24). For "they go", the participle is plural: וְרַבָּנַן אָזְלִי בָּתַר רוּבָּא (69.14).
7. "The most": the superlative. Aramaic has no ending like English -est and no word like "most" before an adjective. It compares with טְפֵי, "more", and מִן, "than", and makes the superlative by comparing with all: גָּרֵיס טְפֵי מִכּוּלְּהוּ, "he studies more than all of them", that is, "he studies the most" (69.15). מִן joins כּוּלְּהוּ as מִ- and doubles its first letter: מִכּוּלְּהוּ.
8. Two majorities. תְּרֵי רוּבֵּי, "two majorities" (69.10): תְּרֵי is the masculine form of "two", and רוּבֵּי the plural. The Gemara asks whether a ruling needs one majority or two.
9. "They are". נִינְהוּ, "they are", stands at the end of the sentence for the plural, as הוּא does for the singular: יְהוּדָאֵי נִינְהוּ, "they are Jews" (69.8).
10. New words in this lesson.
- מִיעוּטָא (miʿūṭā), "minority" (69.5, 69.11, 69.14, 69.30) - אִינָשֵׁי (ʾīnāshē), "people" (69.1, 69.8) - מָתָא (mātā), "town", feminine (69.8) - יְהוּדָאֵי (yəhūdāʾē), "Jews" (69.8) - פָּרֵישׁ (pārēsh), "separates, comes away from" (69.12, 69.25) - חָיֵישׁ (ḥāyēsh), "is concerned for"; חָשׁ (ḥāsh), "he was concerned" (69.14, 69.30) - טְפֵי (ṭəfē), "more" (69.15) - בִּשְׂרָא (bisrā), "meat"; טַבָּחֵי (ṭabbāḥē), "butchers"; הֶתֵּירָא (hettērā), "what is permitted"; אִיסּוּרָא (ʾissūrā), "what is forbidden" (Genre Section) - מְזַבֵּין (məzabbēn), "sells"; זְבַן (zəvan), "bought"; אַשְׁכַּח (ʾashkaḥ), "found" (Genre Section) - תֵּשַׁע חֲנוּיוֹת, "nine shops" (Hebrew); קַמַּן (qamman), "before us" (Section F)
- Putting "most" before the noun as in English. ✗ רוּבָּא אִינָשֵׁי → ✓ רוּבָּא דְּאִינָשֵׁי, "most people". The דְּ- is needed. - Using a singular verb for "most of the students". ✗ רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲתָא → ✓ רוּבָּא דְּתַלְמִידֵי אֲתוֹ: the students came, so the verb is plural. - Forgetting the agreement of the ending. ✗ רוּבֵּיהּ דְּשַׁתָּא → ✓ רוּבַּהּ דְּשַׁתָּא, for שַׁתָּא is feminine. - Using רוּבָּא for "the most" with an adjective or a verb. רוּבָּא is "the greater part" of a number or a whole. "He studies the most" is גָּרֵיס טְפֵי מִכּוּלְּהוּ, not גָּרֵיס רוּבָּא. - Confusing רוּבָּא and רַבָּה. Both come from the root r-b-b, but רַבָּה (rabbā) is "great" and is also the name Rabbah; רוּבָּא (rubbā), with u, is "the majority".
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The rule that a court decides by the majority is drawn from Exodus 23:2, אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת, "to incline after the many". The Gemara uses the same verse for a much wider rule: when one does not know the facts, one may follow the majority of cases (Chullin 11a, Section F). From a vote of judges the principle grows into a way of reasoning about doubt.
The Gemara's favourite example is the street of ten butchers. Ketubot 15a cites a teaching: if nine shops sell properly slaughtered meat and one sells meat that is forbidden, and a man bought from one of them and does not know which, the doubt is forbidden; but if meat is found in the street, one follows the majority. The difference is explained by two sayings of the Gemara on the same page. Of the meat found away from the shops: כֹּל דְּפָרֵישׁ, מֵרוּבָּא פָּרֵישׁ, "whatever has separated has separated from the majority" (69.12). Of the meat bought in a shop, still in its fixed place, Rabbi Zeira's rule: כׇּל קָבוּעַ כְּמֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה דָּמֵי, "whatever is fixed in its place is treated as half and half". Where the thing is found decides whether the majority counts. The Genre Section tells this case as a story.
Rabbi Meir is known in the Gemara for taking the rare case into account: it says of him that he חָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא, "is concerned for the minority", where the other sages do not (69.14). The word pair רוּבָּא and מִיעוּטָא runs through the whole Talmud: much of its legal reasoning is about when the majority decides and when the minority must still be considered.
Aramaic and Hebrew share the root of רוּבָּא with the words for greatness and teaching: רַב, "master", רַבִּי, "my master", רַבָּנַן, "the rabbis", and Hebrew רַבִּים, "many". The rabbis, the many and the majority are, in the language itself, all "great ones".
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Babylonian Talmud, Chullin 11a, text as in the William Davidson (Vilna-based, vocalised) edition on Sefaria; checked word by word against the unvocalised Wikisource text of the Talmud on Sefaria, which has the same words (it writes ט׳ for תֵּשַׁע, "nine"). The punctuation is the Sefaria edition's. The Gemara asks where the rule of the majority comes from. The passage is chosen because רוּבָּא carries it three times, and because it shows the two kinds of majority the Gemara distinguishes.
F.1a מְנָא whence הָא this מִילְּתָא matter דַאֲמוּר that-said רַבָּנַן the-rabbis זִיל go בָּתַר after רוּבָּא the-majority
F.1b mənā (m'-NAA) whence hā (HAA) this millətā (mil-l'-TAA) matter-F.SG.EMPH da-ʾămūr (da-a-MOOR) that-say-PERF.3M.PL rabbānan (rab-BAA-nan) rabbi-M.PL zīl (ZEEL) go-IMPV.M.SG bātar (baa-TAR) after rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH
F.2a מְנָלַן from-where-for-us דִּכְתִיב as-it-is-written אַחֲרֵי after רַבִּים the-many לְהַטֹּת to-incline
F.2b mənālan (m'-NAA-lan) from-where-to-us di-khtīv (dikh-TEEV) that-write-PASS.PTCP.M.SG ʾaḥărē (a-kha-RAY) after (Hebrew) rabbīm (rab-BEEM) many-M.PL (Hebrew) ləhaṭṭōt (l'-hat-TOHT) to-incline-INF (Hebrew)
F.3a רוּבָּא a-majority דְּאִיתָא that-is קַמַּן before-us כְּגוֹן such-as תֵּשַׁע nine חֲנוּיוֹת shops וְסַנְהֶדְרִין and-the-Sanhedrin לָא not קָא indeed מִיבַּעְיָא it-is-asked לַן to-us
F.3b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-ʾītā (d'-EE-taa) that-exist-it qamman (KAM-man) before-us kəgōn (k'-GOHN) such-as tēshaʿ (TAY-sha) nine-F (Hebrew) ḥănūyōt (kha-noo-YOHT) shop-F.PL (Hebrew) wə-Sanhedrīn (v'-san-hed-REEN) and-Sanhedrin lā (LAA) not qā (KAA) PROG mībbaʿyā (meeb-ba-YAA) ask-PASS.PTCP.F.SG lan (LAN) to-us
F.4a כִּי when קָא indeed מִיבַּעְיָא it-is-asked לַן to-us רוּבָּא a-majority דְּלֵיתֵיהּ that-is-not קַמַּן before-us כְּגוֹן such-as קָטָן a-boy וּקְטַנָּה and-a-girl מְנָלַן from-where-for-us
F.4b kī (KEE) when qā (KAA) PROG mībbaʿyā (meeb-ba-YAA) ask-PASS.PTCP.F.SG lan (LAN) to-us rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-lētēh (d'-lay-TAYH) that-not.exist-it qamman (KAM-man) before-us kəgōn (k'-GOHN) such-as qāṭān (kaa-TAAN) minor-M.SG (Hebrew) ū-qəṭannā (oo-k'-tan-NAA) and-minor-F.SG (Hebrew) mənālan (m'-NAA-lan) from-where-to-us
מְנָא הָא מִילְּתָא דַאֲמוּר רַבָּנַן: זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא? מְנָלַן?! דִּכְתִיב: ״אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת״. רוּבָּא דְּאִיתָא קַמַּן, כְּגוֹן תֵּשַׁע חֲנוּיוֹת, וְסַנְהֶדְרִין – לָא קָא מִיבַּעְיָא לַן. כִּי קָא מִיבַּעְיָא לַן, רוּבָּא דְּלֵיתֵיהּ קַמַּן, כְּגוֹן קָטָן וּקְטַנָּה, מְנָלַן?
Whence this matter that the rabbis said, "Follow the majority"? From where do we know it? As it is written: "To incline after the many" (Exodus 23:2). A majority that is before us, such as the nine shops, and the Sanhedrin, is no question for us. What is a question for us is a majority that is not before us, such as a boy and a girl: from where do we know it?
מְנָא הָא מִילְּתָא דַאֲמוּר רַבָּנַן: זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא? מְנָלַן?! דִּכְתִיב: ״אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת״. רוּבָּא דְּאִיתָא קַמַּן, כְּגוֹן תֵּשַׁע חֲנוּיוֹת, וְסַנְהֶדְרִין – לָא קָא מִיבַּעְיָא לַן. כִּי קָא מִיבַּעְיָא לַן, רוּבָּא דְּלֵיתֵיהּ קַמַּן, כְּגוֹן קָטָן וּקְטַנָּה, מְנָלַן?
- זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא, "follow the majority". The rule is quoted as a command to the listener (rule 6), and the Gemara asks for its source in Scripture. - מְנָא … מְנָלַן, "whence … from where do we know it?" מְנָא is "from where"; מְנָלַן is מְנָא + לַן, "from where to us", the Gemara's standard question for the source of a rule. Here the question is asked twice, and the second time answered at once with דִּכְתִיב, "as it is written". - אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת. The verse is Hebrew. רַבִּים, "the many", shares the root r-b-b with רוּבָּא. - רוּבָּא דְּאִיתָא קַמַּן, "a majority that is before us". A majority one can count: the nine shops out of ten, or the judges of the Sanhedrin when they vote. אִיתָא, "it is there", and its negative לֵיתֵיהּ, "it is not there", are the words for existence; קַמַּן is "before us". - רוּבָּא דְּלֵיתֵיהּ קַמַּן, "a majority that is not before us". A majority one cannot count, but knows from the way of the world. The Gemara's example, "a boy and a girl", means, as the commentators explain it: one may assume that a child will grow up able to have children, because most children do, though no one has counted them. The question is where Scripture allows that second, harder kind of reasoning. - לָא קָא מִיבַּעְיָא לַן, "it is not asked by us". קָא before a participle marks what is going on (68.12, דְּקָא גָרֵים); מִיבַּעְיָא is feminine, agreeing with the "matter" in question. - The Hebrew inside the Aramaic. תֵּשַׁע חֲנוּיוֹת and קָטָן וּקְטַנָּה are Hebrew, the words of the Mishnah and the teachings the Gemara discusses; the reasoning around them is Aramaic. So it is on almost every page of the Talmud.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
A short story and dialogue in the language of the Gemara, written for this lesson on the case of the nine shops (Ketubot 15a). It is not a quotation from the Talmud, except the Gemara's phrase in 69.23 and its two sayings in 69.25 and 69.28.
69.16a יוֹמָא day חַד one אֲזַל went תַּלְמִידָא a-student לְשׁוּקָא to-the-market
69.16b yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH ḥad (KHAD) one-M ʾăzal (a-ZAL) go-PERF.3M.SG talmīdā (tal-mee-DAA) student-M.SG.EMPH lə-shūqā (l'-shoo-KAA) to-market-M.SG.EMPH
69.17a בְּשׁוּקָא in-the-market הֲווֹ there-were עַשְׂרָה ten טַבָּחֵי butchers
69.17b bə-shūqā (b'-shoo-KAA) in-market-M.SG.EMPH hăwō (ha-VOH) be-PERF.3M.PL ʿasrā (as-RAA) ten-M ṭabbāḥē (tab-baa-KHAY) butcher-M.PL
69.18a תִּשְׁעָה nine מִנַּיְיהוּ of-them מְזַבְּנִי sell בִּשְׂרָא meat דְּהֶתֵּירָא of-permission וְחַד and-one מְזַבֵּין sells בִּשְׂרָא meat דְּאִיסּוּרָא of-prohibition
69.18b tishʿā (tish-AA) nine-M minnayhū (min-nai-HOO) from-them məzabbənī (m'-zab-b'-NEE) sell-PTCP.M.PL bisrā (bis-RAA) meat-M.SG.EMPH də-hettērā (d'-het-tay-RAA) of-permission-M.SG.EMPH wə-ḥad (v'-KHAD) and-one-M məzabbēn (m'-zab-BAYN) sell-PTCP.M.SG bisrā (bis-RAA) meat-M.SG.EMPH də-ʾissūrā (d'-is-soo-RAA) of-prohibition-M.SG.EMPH
69.19a אַשְׁכַּח he-found בִּשְׂרָא meat בְּאוֹרְחָא on-the-road
69.19b ʾashkaḥ (ash-KAKH) find-PERF.3M.SG bisrā (bis-RAA) meat-M.SG.EMPH bə-ʾōrḥā (b'-ohr-KHAA) on-road-M.SG.EMPH
69.20a וְלָא and-not הֲוָה he-was יָדַע knowing מֵהֵיכָא from-where אֲתָא it-came
69.20b wə-lā (v'-LAA) and-not hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG yādaʿ (yaa-DA) know-PTCP.M.SG mē-hēkhā (may-HAY-khaa) from-where ʾătā (a-TAA) come-PERF.3M.SG
69.21a אֲתָא he-came לְקַמֵּיהּ before דְּרַבֵּיהּ his-master
69.21b ʾătā (a-TAA) come-PERF.3M.SG lə-qammēh (l'-kam-MAYH) to-before-him də-rabbēh (d'-rab-BAYH) of-master-his
69.22a אֲמַר he-said לֵיהּ to-him רַבִּי my-master מַהוּ what-is-it לְמֵיכְלֵיהּ to-eat-it
69.22b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him rabbī (rab-BEE) master-my mahū (MA-hoo) what-it lə-mēkhlēh (l'-maykh-LAYH) to-eat-INF-it
69.23a אֲמַר he-said לֵיהּ to-him זִיל go בָּתַר after רוּבָּא the-majority
69.23b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him zīl (ZEEL) go-IMPV.M.SG bātar (baa-TAR) after rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH
69.24a רוּבָּא the-majority דְּטַבָּחֵי of-the-butchers בִּשְׂרָא meat דְּהֶתֵּירָא of-permission מְזַבְּנִי sell
69.24b rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH də-ṭabbāḥē (d'-tab-baa-KHAY) of-butcher-M.PL bisrā (bis-RAA) meat-M.SG.EMPH də-hettērā (d'-het-tay-RAA) of-permission-M.SG.EMPH məzabbənī (m'-zab-b'-NEE) sell-PTCP.M.PL
69.25a וְכֹל and-whatever דְּפָרֵישׁ that-separates מֵרוּבָּא from-the-majority פָּרֵישׁ separates
69.25b wə-khol (v'-KHOL) and-every də-pārēsh (d'-paa-RAYSH) that-separate-PTCP.M.SG mē-rubbā (may-rub-BAA) from-majority-M.SG.EMPH pārēsh (paa-RAYSH) separate-PTCP.M.SG
69.26a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him תַּלְמִידָא the-student וְאִי and-if זְבַנִית I-bought מִטַּבָּחָא from-a-butcher וְלָא and-not יָדַעְנָא I-know מַאן who הוּא he-is
69.26b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him talmīdā (tal-mee-DAA) student-M.SG.EMPH wə-ʾī (v'-EE) and-if zəvanīt (z'-va-NEET) buy-PERF.1SG miṭ-ṭabbāḥā (mit-tab-baa-KHAA) from-butcher-M.SG.EMPH wə-lā (v'-LAA) and-not yādaʿnā (yaa-DA-naa) know-PTCP.1SG man (MAN) who hū (HOO) he
69.27a אֲמַר he-said לֵיהּ to-him הָתָם there לָא not אָזְלִינַן we-go בָּתַר after רוּבָּא the-majority
69.27b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him hātām (haa-TAAM) there lā (LAA) not ʾāzlīnan (aaz-LEE-nan) go-PTCP.1PL bātar (baa-TAR) after rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH
69.28a דְּכׇל for-every קָבוּעַ fixed-thing כְּמֶחֱצָה as-half עַל against מֶחֱצָה half דָּמֵי is-like
69.28b də-khol (d'-KHOL) for-every qāvūaʿ (kaa-VOO-a) fixed-M.SG (Hebrew) kə-meḥĕṣā (k'-meh-kheh-TSAA) as-half (Hebrew) ʿal (AL) on (Hebrew) meḥĕṣā (meh-kheh-TSAA) half (Hebrew) dāmē (daa-MAY) resemble-PTCP.M.SG
69.29a אֲמַר said תַּלְמִידָא the-student הַשְׁתָּא now יָדַעְנָא I-know אֵימַת when אָזְלִינַן we-go בָּתַר after רוּבָּא the-majority
69.29b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG talmīdā (tal-mee-DAA) student-M.SG.EMPH hashtā (HASH-taa) now yādaʿnā (yaa-DA-naa) know-PTCP.1SG ʾēmat (AY-mat) when ʾāzlīnan (aaz-LEE-nan) go-PTCP.1PL bātar (baa-TAR) after rubbā (rub-BAA) majority-M.SG.EMPH
69.30a אֲזַל he-went וַאֲכַל and-ate בִּשְׂרָא the-meat וְלָא and-not חָשׁ he-was-concerned לְמִיעוּטָא for-the-minority
69.30b ʾăzal (a-ZAL) go-PERF.3M.SG wa-ʾăkhal (va-a-KHAL) and-eat-PERF.3M.SG bisrā (bis-RAA) meat-M.SG.EMPH wə-lā (v'-LAA) and-not ḥāsh (KHAASH) be.concerned-PERF.3M.SG lə-miʿūṭā (l'-mi-oo-TAA) for-minority-M.SG.EMPH
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
69.16 יוֹמָא חַד אֲזַל תַּלְמִידָא לְשׁוּקָא. — yōmā ḥad ʾăzal talmīdā lə-shūqā. — "One day a student went to the market."
69.17 בְּשׁוּקָא הֲווֹ עַשְׂרָה טַבָּחֵי. — bə-shūqā hăwō ʿasrā ṭabbāḥē. — "In the market there were ten butchers."
69.18 תִּשְׁעָה מִנַּיְיהוּ מְזַבְּנִי בִּשְׂרָא דְּהֶתֵּירָא, וְחַד מְזַבֵּין בִּשְׂרָא דְּאִיסּוּרָא. — tishʿā minnayhū məzabbənī bisrā də-hettērā, wə-ḥad məzabbēn bisrā də-ʾissūrā. — "Nine of them sell permitted meat, and one sells forbidden meat."
69.19 אַשְׁכַּח בִּשְׂרָא בְּאוֹרְחָא. — ʾashkaḥ bisrā bə-ʾōrḥā. — "He found meat on the road."
69.20 וְלָא הֲוָה יָדַע מֵהֵיכָא אֲתָא. — wə-lā hăwā yādaʿ mē-hēkhā ʾătā. — "And he did not know where it had come from."
69.21 אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבֵּיהּ. — ʾătā lə-qammēh də-rabbēh. — "He came before his master."
69.22 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רַבִּי, מַהוּ לְמֵיכְלֵיהּ? — ʾămar lēh: rabbī, mahū lə-mēkhlēh? — "He said to him: Master, may I eat it?"
69.23 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא. — ʾămar lēh: zīl bātar rubbā. — "He said to him: Follow the majority."
69.24 רוּבָּא דְּטַבָּחֵי בִּשְׂרָא דְּהֶתֵּירָא מְזַבְּנִי. — rubbā də-ṭabbāḥē bisrā də-hettērā məzabbənī. — "Most of the butchers sell permitted meat."
69.25 וְכֹל דְּפָרֵישׁ, מֵרוּבָּא פָּרֵישׁ. — wə-khol də-pārēsh, mē-rubbā pārēsh. — "And whatever has separated has separated from the majority."
69.26 אֲמַר לֵיהּ תַּלְמִידָא: וְאִי זְבַנִית מִטַּבָּחָא, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא מַאן הוּא? — ʾămar lēh talmīdā: wə-ʾī zəvanīt miṭ-ṭabbāḥā, wə-lā yādaʿnā man hū? — "The student said to him: And if I bought from a butcher, and I do not know which one he is?"
69.27 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָתָם לָא אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא. — ʾămar lēh: hātām lā ʾāzlīnan bātar rubbā. — "He said to him: There we do not follow the majority."
69.28 דְּכׇל קָבוּעַ כְּמֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה דָּמֵי. — də-khol qāvūaʿ kə-meḥĕṣā ʿal meḥĕṣā dāmē. — "For whatever is fixed in its place is treated as half and half."
69.29 אֲמַר תַּלְמִידָא: הַשְׁתָּא יָדַעְנָא אֵימַת אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא. — ʾămar talmīdā: hashtā yādaʿnā ʾēmat ʾāzlīnan bātar rubbā. — "The student said: Now I know when we follow the majority."
69.30 אֲזַל וַאֲכַל בִּשְׂרָא, וְלָא חָשׁ לְמִיעוּטָא. — ʾăzal wa-ʾăkhal bisrā, wə-lā ḥāsh lə-miʿūṭā. — "He went and ate the meat, and did not worry about the minority."
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
69.16 יוֹמָא חַד אֲזַל תַּלְמִידָא לְשׁוּקָא.
69.17 בְּשׁוּקָא הֲווֹ עַשְׂרָה טַבָּחֵי.
69.18 תִּשְׁעָה מִנַּיְיהוּ מְזַבְּנִי בִּשְׂרָא דְּהֶתֵּירָא, וְחַד מְזַבֵּין בִּשְׂרָא דְּאִיסּוּרָא.
69.19 אַשְׁכַּח בִּשְׂרָא בְּאוֹרְחָא.
69.20 וְלָא הֲוָה יָדַע מֵהֵיכָא אֲתָא.
69.21 אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבֵּיהּ.
69.22 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רַבִּי, מַהוּ לְמֵיכְלֵיהּ?
69.23 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: זִיל בָּתַר רוּבָּא.
69.24 רוּבָּא דְּטַבָּחֵי בִּשְׂרָא דְּהֶתֵּירָא מְזַבְּנִי.
69.25 וְכֹל דְּפָרֵישׁ, מֵרוּבָּא פָּרֵישׁ.
69.26 אֲמַר לֵיהּ תַּלְמִידָא: וְאִי זְבַנִית מִטַּבָּחָא, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא מַאן הוּא?
69.27 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָתָם לָא אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא.
69.28 דְּכׇל קָבוּעַ כְּמֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה דָּמֵי.
69.29 אֲמַר תַּלְמִידָא: הַשְׁתָּא יָדַעְנָא אֵימַת אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא.
69.30 אֲזַל וַאֲכַל בִּשְׂרָא, וְלָא חָשׁ לְמִיעוּטָא.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
- The scene. The narrative uses the perfect: אֲזַל, אַשְׁכַּח, אֲתָא, אֲמַר (69.16–69.23). The facts of the market, true every day, are in the participle: מְזַבְּנִי, מְזַבֵּין (69.18, 69.24). - Numbers with a masculine noun. עַשְׂרָה טַבָּחֵי, "ten butchers" (69.17), and תִּשְׁעָה מִנַּיְיהוּ, "nine of them" (69.18): with a masculine noun the numbers three to ten end in -ā (lesson 68, rule 8). The Hebrew of Ketubot 15a, תֵּשַׁע חֲנוּיוֹת, uses the other form because Hebrew חֲנוּת, "shop", is feminine. - "Permitted" and "forbidden". בִּשְׂרָא דְּהֶתֵּירָא and בִּשְׂרָא דְּאִיסּוּרָא, "meat of permission" and "meat of prohibition" (69.18): Aramaic again uses דְּ- where English has an adjective. - "Did not know". וְלָא הֲוָה יָדַע (69.20): הֲוָה with the participle for a state in the past (lesson 67, rule 2). - "What about …?" מַהוּ לְמֵיכְלֵיהּ, "what is it to eat it?" (69.22): מַהוּ, "what is it", with an infinitive, is the Gemara's way of asking whether something is allowed. The infinitive לְמֵיכַל, "to eat", takes the object ending -ēh, "it". - The two sayings. The master answers with the Gemara's own words: כֹּל דְּפָרֵישׁ מֵרוּבָּא פָּרֵישׁ (69.25) for the meat found in the road, and Rabbi Zeira's rule כׇּל קָבוּעַ כְּמֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה דָּמֵי (69.28) for the meat bought at a shop. The second is half Hebrew (קָבוּעַ, מֶחֱצָה) and ends with the Aramaic verb דָּמֵי, "is like". - "I bought", "I know". זְבַנִית (69.26) is the perfect with -īt, "I"; יָדַעְנָא (69.26, 69.29) is the participle with -nā, "I" (lesson 68, 68.24). - "There". הָתָם (69.27) is "there", in argument "in that case"; the Gemara uses it constantly to point to the other case under discussion. - The last line. וְלָא חָשׁ לְמִיעוּטָא (69.30), "he did not worry about the minority": the student acts like the rabbis of 69.14, not like Rabbi Meir.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
- IPA: /rubˈbaː/ - ר (resh) = r; many readers say it at the back of the throat, others with the tip of the tongue. - וּ (shuruk) = u, as in put: here short, because a doubled consonant follows. - בּ (bet with dagesh) = a hard, doubled b: rub-baa, holding the b a moment. - ָ (qamats) = a long a, as in father. - א (alef) at the end is silent: it only carries the vowel ā. - The stress falls on the last syllable: rub-BAA.
- IPA: /rubˈbeːh/, /rubˈbah/ - rub-BAYH and rub-BAH: the dot in the final ה (mappiq) means the h is breathed out. The vowel alone tells "his/its" (masculine) from "her/its" (feminine).
- IPA: /rubbajˈhuː/ - rub-bai-HOO: the two yods make the diphthong ai.
- IPA: /miʕuːˈtˤaː/ - mi-oo-TAA: the ע separates the i from the long ū; in most modern readings it is silent, so the two vowels simply follow one another.
- ח (ḥet) in חַד, טַבָּחֵי, אַשְׁכַּח, בְּאוֹרְחָא, חָיֵישׁ, חָשׁ, מֶחֱצָה, אַחֲרֵי: a rasping sound in the throat, like the ch of Scottish loch. Written kh in the respellings. - ע (ʿayin) in מִיעוּטָא, תִּשְׁעָה, עַשְׂרָה, יָדַע, יָדַעְנָא, בְּתַעֲנִיתָא, בָּעֵינַן, מִיבַּעְיָא, תֵּשַׁע, קָבוּעַ, עַל: a voiced sound in the throat, in most modern readings silent or a slight catch. - ט (ṭet) in מִיעוּטָא, טְפֵי, טַבָּחֵי, קָטָן, לְהַטֹּת: originally an emphatic t; most readers today say a plain t. - ק (qof) in קַמַּן, קָא, קָבוּעַ, קָטָן, לְקַמֵּיהּ: originally a k made further back in the throat; most readers today say a plain k. - צ (ṣade) in בְּצַפְרָא, מֶחֱצָה: ts, as in English cats. - שׂ (sin) in בִּשְׂרָא, עַשְׂרָה: a plain s; the dot on the left tells it from שׁ, sh. - The mappiq ה in רוּבֵּיהּ, רוּבַּהּ, לֵיהּ, דְּרַבֵּיהּ, לְקַמֵּיהּ, לְמֵיכְלֵיהּ, דְּלֵיתֵיהּ: the final h is really breathed out.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---
Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)