Vayikra 5:1 · unit 17

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 5:1 · Unit 17 of 25

Complete Passuk

וְנֶפֶשׁ כִּי־תֶחֱטָא וְשָׁמְעָה קוֹל אָלָה וְהוּא עֵד אוֹ רָאָה אוֹ יָדָע אִם־לוֹא יַגִּיד וְנָשָׂא עֲוֺנוֹ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Gittin 71a.

Sefaria — Gittin 71a
E-Daf · Gittin 71a

Core Text — Gittin 71a
״אִם לֹא יַגִּיד״ – פְּרָט לְאִלֵּם, שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַגִּיד… שָׁאנֵי עֵדוּת, דְּרַחֲמָנָא אָמַר: ״מִפִּיהֶם״ – וְלֹא מִפִּי כְתָבָם.

“If he does not tell” — excluding a mute, who cannot tell… Testimony is different, for the Merciful One said “from their mouths” — and not from their writing.

The Gemara derives from the language of “yagid” that a mute is outside the verse’s framework, and further that testimony under Torah law must be oral, not written.

Type of Learning: Miyut from “yagid” — a mute is excluded; testimony must be oral, not written.
What Is Learned: A mute cannot fulfill “he shall tell” under this verse. Written testimony does not replace oral testimony for eidus, because the Torah requires “from their mouths.”