And now thy two sons, who were born unto thee in the land of Mitzrayim before I came unto thee into Mitzrayim, are mine; Efrayim and Menasheh, even as Reuven and Shimon, shall be mine.
English: We learned: A woman who curses her husband’s parents in his presence goes out without her kesubah. Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: Do not say “in his presence” literally, but even if she curses his parents in the presence of his children; and your mnemonic is “Efrayim and Menasheh, even as Reuven and Shimon, shall be mine.”
On the daf / in context: The elevation of Efrayim and Menasheh to the status of Yaakov’s own sons supplies the mnemonic that grandchildren are regarded as children. Therefore cursing the husband’s parents in front of the grandchildren is treated as cursing them in front of the husband himself.
Type of Learning
Asmachta / mnemonic from the verse — the equation of Yosef’s sons with Yaakov’s own sons supports the broader principle that בני בנים הרי הם כבנים.
What Is Learned
Grandchildren are regarded as children. Consequently, a wife who curses her husband’s parents in the presence of the grandchildren is liable to lose her kesubah, just as if she had done so in the husband’s own presence.