Vayikra 5:21 · unit 13

Parashas Vayikra · Passuk 5:21 · Unit 13 of 13

Complete Passuk

נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא וּמָעֲלָה מַעַל בַּיהוָה וְכִחֵשׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ בְּפִקָּדוֹן אוֹ־בִתְשׂוּמֶת יָד אוֹ בְגָזֵל אוֹ עָשַׁק אֶת־עֲמִיתוֹ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Bava Metzia 48a.

Core Text
אוֹ עָשַׁק אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ — כְּגוֹן שֶׁיִּחֵד לוֹ כְּלִי לְעָשְׁקוֹ.

“Or oppresses his fellow” — for example, when he designated a vessel against the wage he is withholding.

In the sugya: Withholding a laborer’s wage creates this liability only when a vessel has been designated against the wage. Mere unpaid wages without an identified item do not generate asham gezeilot on denial under oath.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of identified security for oshek — designated vessel required.

What Is Learned

Mere unpaid wages without a designated item do not generate asham gezeilot on denial under oath. Only when a specific vessel has been set aside against the wage does the denial parallel a deposit denial and trigger the offering.