154 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19), Source Book Keys, CCCBM DEUTERONOMY | 25:3 forty — DEUT1424 It is a negative commandment to strike n... DEUT1424 It is a negative commandment to strike no person whatever in Jewry. The admonition on this derives from the verse, Forty lashes he may give him; he may not add more [this verse]. For this is an injunction to strike no man whatever in Jewry: It is a kal va-homer, an inference by reasoning from the less to the more: When someone has become punishable by whiplashes, so that the Torah has given permission to strike him, Scripture commands to add nothing [to the flogging] when he is beaten. How much more certainly must this apply to other human beings. If someone strikes his fellow-man a blow entailing damages of less than a p'rutah [the smallest coin] he should receive whiplashes. But if the damages amount to more than a p'rutah (which means that he struck him a major blow, for which he becomes obligated to make payment of a p'rutah or more), since he becomes duty-bound to pay money he receives no whiplashes (but he does violate the prohibition). Even if a person [only] raises his hand against his fellow-man, he is called wicked. However, if someone delivers a blow in the course of discipline and education, he commits no transgression. Share Print Source KeyCCCBMVerse25:3Keyword(s)fortySource Page(s)137 Switch article DEUTERONOMY | 25:3 exceed — DEUT1423 We are forbidden to strike others. When... Previous Article DEUTERONOMY | 25:3 lashes — DEUT1425 See [[DEUT1079]] Deuteronomy 21:23 defil... Next Article