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.
English: ‘And your brother be degraded’ – once he has been flogged, behold he is your brother.
On the daf / in context: After the lashes have been administered the offender is restored to full fraternal status; the degradation is temporary and purposeful.
Type of Learning
Derash on the restored status after punishment (Bavli).
What Is Learned
The purpose of lashes is corrective degradation; once the penalty is completed the person is again called ‘your brother’ and must be treated as such.