## Bava Batra Daf 89a

###### Bava Batra 89a:1
[Bava Batra 89a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:1)

מִ״וְּהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע״, וְעַד ״לְעׇבְדָם״; וְקִלְּלָן בְּעֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁתַּיִם – מִ״וְּהָיָה אִם לֹא תִשְׁמַע״ עַד ״וְאֵין קֹנֶה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**from** the letter *vav* that begins the verse: **“And it shall come to pass [*vehaya*], if you shall hearken diligently”** (Deuteronomy 28:1), **until: “To serve them [*le’ovdam*]”** (Deuteronomy 28:14), which ends with the letter *mem*. **And he cursed them with twenty-two** letters, **from** the letter *vav* that begins the verse: **“But it shall come to pass [*vehaya*], if you will not hearken** to the voice of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 28:15), **until: “And no man shall buy [*koneh*]”** (Deuteronomy 28:68). This verse ends with a letter *heh*, which comes just before *vav* in the alphabet. Starting with a *vav* and ending with a *heh* encompasses the twenty-two letters of the alphabet.


###### Bava Batra 89a:2
[Bava Batra 89a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:2)

מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לָמוֹד בְּגַסָּה כּוּ׳. (סִימָן: אֵין מְעַיְּינִין, וְאֵין גּוֹדְשִׁין, בַּאֲגַרְדְּמִין, וּבְלִיטְרָא, שְׁלֹשָׁה, וָעֶשֶׂר, נֶפֶשׁ, מִשְׁקָלוֹת, מִמֶּחָק, עָבֶה, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה.)

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that **in a place where they were accustomed to measure with** one **large** measuring vessel, one may not measure with several small measuring vessels. In a place where the custom is to level the top of the measuring vessel to remove substances heaped above its edges, one may not heap it; and where they are accustomed to heap it, one may not level it. The Gemara provides **a mnemonic** for the ensuing *halakhot*: **One may not balance with precision; and one may not heap** it; **with market inspectors [*ba’agardamin*]; and with a *litra*; three; and ten; fulcrum; weights; a thick leveler; you may not do; one may not do.**


###### Bava Batra 89a:3
[Bava Batra 89a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:3)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין מוֹחֲקִין בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁגּוֹדְשִׁין, וְאֵין גּוֹדְשִׁין בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁמּוֹחֲקִין? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֵיפָה שְׁלֵמָה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught: From where** is it derived **that one may not level** a measuring vessel **in a place where they** are accustomed to **heap** it **and** that **one may not heap** it **in a place where they** are accustomed to **level** it? **The verse states: “A perfect weight”** (Deuteronomy 25:15), which indicates that one must use whatever is considered a perfect measuring vessel in that locale, as this ensures that there is no deception or trickery.


###### Bava Batra 89a:4
[Bava Batra 89a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:4)

וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם אָמַר: הֲרֵינִי מוֹחֵק בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁגּוֹדְשִׁין – וְלִפְחוֹת לוֹ מִן הַדָּמִים, וַהֲרֵינִי גּוֹדֵשׁ בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁמּוֹחֲקִין – וּלְהוֹסִיף לוֹ עַל הַדָּמִים; שֶׁאֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֵיפָה שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָּךְ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And from where** is it derived **that if** the seller **said in a place where they heap: I am hereby leveling and** am willing in exchange **to reduce the price for** you, or said, **in a place where they level: I am hereby heaping and** am willing **to increase the price for** you, **that** the court **does not listen to him? The verse states: “A perfect and just weight you shall have”** (Deuteronomy 25:15). The addition of the term “just,” beyond the requirement that the weight be “perfect,” teaches that one must keep his weights in a just manner, i.e., that employed by the people of that locale.


###### Bava Batra 89a:5
[Bava Batra 89a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:5)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין מְעַיְּינִין בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁמַּכְרִיעִין, וְאֵין מַכְרִיעִין בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁמְּעַיְּינִין? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught: From where** is it derived **that one may not** balance a scale so that it will **balance with precision [*me’ayyenin*] in a place where they** are accustomed to **let** the scales **tilt** a handbreadth for the benefit of the buyer, **and** that **one may not let** the scales **tilt** a handbreadth **in a place where they** are accustomed to **balance with precision? The verse states: “A perfect weight”** (Deuteronomy 25:15), which teaches that the weight must be considered perfect in that locale.


###### Bava Batra 89a:6
[Bava Batra 89a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:6)

וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם אָמַר: הֲרֵינִי מְעַיֵּין בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁמַּכְרִיעִין – וְלִפְחוֹת לוֹ מִן הַדָּמִים, וַהֲרֵינִי מַכְרִיעַ בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁמְּעַיְּינִין – וּלְהוֹסִיף לוֹ עַל הַדָּמִים; שֶׁאֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And from where** is it derived **that if** a seller **said, in a place where** it is the custom to **let** the scales **tilt** a handbreadth: **I am hereby balancing with precision and** am willing **to reduce the price for** the buyer; **or, in a place where** it is the custom to **balance with precision: I am hereby letting** the scales **tilt** a handbreadth **and** am willing **to increase the price for** the buyer, **that** the court **does not listen to him? The verse states: “A perfect and just weight”** (Deuteronomy 25:15), which teaches that the just way of acting is to weigh in accordance with the practice in that locale.


###### Bava Batra 89a:7
[Bava Batra 89a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:7)

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה מִסּוּרָא: ״לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּבֵיתְךָ״ – מָה טַעַם? מִשּׁוּם ״אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yehuda of Sura says** a homiletic interpretation of the phrase: “You shall not have in your house diverse measures” (Deuteronomy 25:14): **“You shall not have in your house”** means that you will become a pauper, who has nothing in his house. **What is the reason** for this? It is **due to** the fact that you used **diverse measures,** buying with a large vessel and selling with a small one.


###### Bava Batra 89a:8
[Bava Batra 89a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:8)

״לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּכִיסְךָ״ – מָה טַעַם? מִשּׁוּם ״אֶבֶן וָאָבֶן״. אֲבָל ״אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָּךְ, אֵיפָה שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָּךְ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The phrase: “You shall not have in your purse diverse weights” (Deuteronomy 25:13), is interpreted in a similar fashion: **“You shall not have in your purse,”** i.e., you will become a pauper, who has nothing in his purse. **What is the reason** for this? It is **due to** the fact that you used **diverse weights. But** if you possess only **“a perfect and just weight,”** then **“you shall have”** wealth. Likewise, if you possess only **“a perfect and just measure,”** then **“you shall have”** wealth.


###### Bava Batra 89a:9
[Bava Batra 89a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:9)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״(לֹא) יִהְיֶה לְךָ״ – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִין אֲגַרְדְּמִין לַמִּדּוֹת, וְאֵין מַעֲמִידִין אֲגַרְדְּמִין לַשְּׁעָרִים. דְּבֵי נְשִׂיאָה אוֹקִימוּ אֲגַרְדְּמִין בֵּין לַמִּדּוֹת בֵּין לַשְּׁעָרִים, אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁמוּאֵל לְקַרְנָא: פּוֹק תְּנִי לְהוּ: מַעֲמִידִין אֲגַרְדְּמִין לַמִּדּוֹת, וְאֵין מַעֲמִידִין אֲגַרְדְּמִין לַשְּׁעָרִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** that the phrase: **“You shall not have,” teaches that** the court **appoints market inspectors to** supervise the accuracy of **measures.** The Gemara infers: **But** the court **does not appoint market inspectors for** supervising market **prices.** The Gemara relates: **The house of the *Nasi* appointed market inspectors for** supervising **both measures and prices. Shmuel said to** his student, the Sage **Karna: Go out** and **teach them** that **one appoints market inspectors for** supervising **measures but one does not appoint market inspectors for prices.**


###### Bava Batra 89a:10
[Bava Batra 89a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:10)

נְפַק דְּרַשׁ לְהוּ: מַעֲמִידִין אֲגַרְדְּמִין בֵּין לַמִּדּוֹת בֵּין לַשְּׁעָרִים. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מָה שְׁמָךְ? קַרְנָא. תִּיפּוֹק לֵיהּ קַרְנָא בְּעֵינֵיהּ. נְפַקָא לֵיהּ קַרְנָא בְּעֵינֵיהּ. וְאִיהוּ כְּמַאן סָבַר? כִּי הָא דְּאָמַר רָמֵי בַּר חָמָא אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: מַעֲמִידִין אֲגַרְדְּמִין בֵּין לַמִּדּוֹת בֵּין לַשְּׁעָרִים, מִפְּנֵי הָרַמָּאִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Karna **went out** and **taught them** that **one appoints market inspectors for** supervising **both measures and prices.** Shmuel, hearing what he had done, **said to him: What is your name?** He replied: **Karna.** Shmuel said: **Let a horn [*karna*] emerge in his eye. A horn,** i.e., a growth of flesh, **emerged in his eye.** The Gemara asks: **And** Karna, **in accordance with whose** opinion **did he hold,** which led him to disregard his teacher’s statement? He held **in accordance with that which Rami bar Ḥama says** that **Rabbi Yitzḥak says: One appoints market inspectors for** supervising **both measures and prices, due to swindlers,** to prevent people from using smaller measures or from selling at a steep price while falsely claiming that they are selling superior-quality merchandise.


###### Bava Batra 89a:11
[Bava Batra 89a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:11)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ לִיטְרָא – שׁוֹקֵל לוֹ לִיטְרָא. חֲצִי לִיטְרָא – שׁוֹקֵל לוֹ חֲצִי לִיטְרָא. רְבִיעַ לִיטְרָא – שׁוֹקֵל לוֹ רְבִיעַ לִיטְרָא. מַאי קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן? דִּמְתַקְּנִינַן מַתְקָלֵי עַד הָכִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara discusses several *halakhot* related to the cases of the mishna. **The Sages taught:** If the buyer **requested from** the seller **a *litra*** of a specific item, **he weighs for him** using **a *litra*** weight. If he asks for **half a *litra*, he weighs for him using a half-*litra*** weight. If he wants **one-quarter** of **a *litra*, he weighs for him** using **a quarter**-***litra*** weight. The Gemara asks: Isn’t this obvious? **What is** this *baraita* **teaching us?** The Gemara explains: It teaches **that one sets weights until this** amount, one-quarter of a *litra*, but not less. If a buyer asks the seller to weigh a smaller amount for him, his request is not granted.


###### Bava Batra 89a:12
[Bava Batra 89a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:12)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה רִבְעֵי לִיטְרָא, לֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ: שְׁקוֹל לִי שְׁלֹשָׁה רִבְעֵי לִיטְרָא אַחַת אַחַת. אֶלָּא שׁוֹקֵל לִיטְרָא, וּמַנִּיחַ רְבִיעַ לִיטְרָא עִם הַבָּשָׂר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Furthermore, **the Sages taught:** If the buyer **requested from him three-quarters** of **a *litra*,** and there is no weight equal to this amount, the buyer **may not say to him: Weigh for me three** units using **a quarter-*litra*** weight, **one** by **one,** so that the seller lets the scales tilt by a handbreadth as he measures each quarter-*litra* weight. **Rather, he weighs** the merchandise all at once, as he places **a *litra*** weight on one pan of the scale, and **places** on the other pan of the scale **a quarter-*litra* weight** together **with the meat** that is being sold.


###### Bava Batra 89a:13
[Bava Batra 89a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:13)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ עֶשֶׂר לִיטְרִין, לֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ: שְׁקוֹל לִי אַחַת אַחַת וְהַכְרִיעָהּ; אֶלָּא שׁוֹקֵל לוֹ כּוּלָּן בְּבַת אַחַת, וְנוֹתֵן הֶכְרֵעַ אֶחָד לְכוּלָּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages** likewise **taught:** In a case where the buyer **requested from** the seller **ten *litra*** of merchandise, the buyer **may not say to him: Weigh for me** each *litra* **one** by **one, and let** the scales **tilt** each time, as on every occasion that the seller does this the buyer receives more than that for which he paid. **Rather, he weighs all** the merchandise **at the same time and lets** the scales **tilt once for all** the merchandise.


###### Bava Batra 89a:14
[Bava Batra 89a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:14)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נֶפֶשׁ מֹאזְנַיִם – תְּלוּיָה בָּאֲוִיר שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים, וּגְבוֹהָה מִן הָאָרֶץ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים, וְקָנֶה וּמִתְנָא שֶׁלָּהּ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר טְפָחִים. וְשֶׁל צַמָּרִים וְשֶׁל זַגָּגִין – תְּלוּיָה בָּאֲוִיר שְׁנֵי טְפָחִים, וּגְבוֹהָה מִן הָאָרֶץ שְׁנֵי טְפָחִים, וְקָנֶה וּמִתְנָא שֶׁלָּהּ תִּשְׁעָה טְפָחִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught: The fulcrum of a scale** must be **suspended in the air** so that the point the lever goes through it is at a distance of **three handbreadths** from the ceiling, **and** the pans of the scale must be **three handbreadths above the ground. And** the scale’s **lever and cord,** from which each pan is suspended, must be **twelve handbreadths** long. **And** the fulcrum of a scale **of wool-weavers and glassmakers** must be **suspended in the air** at a distance of **two handbreadths** from the ceiling, **and** the pans of the scale must be **two handbreadths above the ground. And its lever and cord** must be **nine handbreadths** long.


###### Bava Batra 89a:15
[Bava Batra 89a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:15)

וְשֶׁל חֶנְווֹנִי וְשֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת – תְּלוּיָה בָּאֲוִיר טֶפַח, וּגְבוֹהָה מִן הָאָרֶץ טֶפַח, וְקָנֶה וּמִתְנָא שֶׁלָּהּ שִׁשָּׁה טְפָחִים. וְשֶׁל טוּרְטָנִי – תְּלוּיָה בָּאֲוִיר שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת, וּגְבוֹהָה מִן הָאָרֶץ שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת, וְקָנֶה וּמִתְנָא שֶׁלָּהּ אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** the fulcrum of a scale **of a storekeeper and of a homeowner** must be **suspended in the air** at a distance of **one handbreadth** from the ceiling, **and** the pans of the scale must be **one handbreadth above the ground. And its lever and cord** must be **six handbreadths long. And** the fulcrums of small **scales [*turtanei*]** used for weighing gold and silver must be **suspended in the air** at a distance of **three fingerbreadths** from the ceiling, **and** the pans of the scales must be **three fingerbreadths above the ground.** The *tanna* continues: **But** with regard to **its lever and cord, I do not know** their required length.


###### Bava Batra 89a:16
[Bava Batra 89a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/89a:16)

וְאֶלָּא הָךְ קַמַּיְיתָא – דְּמַאי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Since the function of each type of balance scale is mentioned with the exception of the first type, the Gemara asks: **And that** large balance scale, which is mentioned **first, for what** is it used?