Ki Seitzei 25:03 · unit 7

TT #631 · 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 23a.

TT lemma: פֶּן יֹסִיף לְהַכֹּתוֹ עַל אֵלֶּה מַכָּה רַבָּה.

Sefaria — Makkot 23a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
פֶּן יֹסִיף לְהַכֹּתוֹ עַל אֵלֶּה מַכָּה רַבָּה – מִכָּאן שֶׁאִם הוֹסִיף לוֹ מַכָּה אַחַת חַיָּב.

English: ‘Lest he continue to strike him beyond these with a great blow’ – from here we learn that if he adds even one extra blow he is liable.

On the daf / in context: The verse itself makes the officer who exceeds the number subject to punishment.

Type of Learning

Derash establishing liability for excess (Bavli).

What Is Learned

An officer who administers even one lash beyond the court-ordered number is himself liable for having violated the prohibition against adding.