Ki Seitzei 25:03 · unit 4

TT #628 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 25:03

The Complete Passuk

אַרְבָּעִ֥ים יַכֶּ֖נּוּ לֹ֣א יֹסִ֑יף פֶּן־יֹסִ֨יף לְהַכֹּת֤וֹ עַל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ מַכָּ֣ה רַבָּ֔ה וְנִקְלָ֥ה אָחִ֖יךָ לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Forty times he shall strike him; he shall not add, lest he continue to strike him beyond these with a great blow, and your brother be degraded before your eyes.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Makkot 22b / Sifrei.

TT lemma: יַכֶּנּוּ.

Sefaria — Makkot 22b / Sifrei

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
יַכֶּנּוּ – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין מַלְקִין שְׁנַיִם כְּאֶחָד.

English: ‘He shall strike him’ – this teaches that they do not flog two people at the same time.

On the daf / in context: One administrator cannot alternate blows between two condemned persons; each must receive undivided attention.

Type of Learning

Derash on the singular object (Sifrei / Bavli).

What Is Learned

Lashes are administered to one person at a time. The requirement of focused attention precludes simultaneous flogging of two offenders.