Vayikra 5:22 · unit 4

Parashas Vayikra · Passuk 5:22 · Unit 4 of 8

Complete Passuk

אוֹ־מָצָא אֲבֵדָה וְכִחֶשׁ בָּהּ וְנִשְׁבַּע עַל־שָׁקֶר עַל־אַחַת מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה הָאָדָם לַחֲטֹא בָהֵנָּה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Bava Kamma.

Core Text
וְכִחֶשׁ בָּהּ — יָכוֹל אָמַר לוֹ שְׁנֵי שְׁוָרִים מָצָאתָ לִי וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לֹא מָצָאתִי אֶלָּא אֶחָד יְהֵא חַיָּב? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְכִחֶשׁ בָּהּ, פְּרָט לָזֶה שֶׁלֹּא כִּחֵשׁ.

“And he denied it” — might one think that if he said “you found two oxen of mine” and the other replies “I found only one,” he is liable? Scripture says “and he denied it,” excluding this case, for he did not fully deny.

In the sugya: When the claimant cannot force a definitive contradiction (the oxen may have separated), partial admission is not “kichhesh.” Full denial of the claim is required.

Type of Learning

Miyut of incomplete contradiction — partial admission of one of two is excluded.

What Is Learned

Where the claimant cannot force a definitive “you must have both,” partial admission is not “kichhesh.” The asham structure requires a complete denial of the claim.