Forbidden Intercourse Chapter 14

כֵּיצַד מְקַבְּלִין גֵּרֵי הַצֶּדֶק. כְּשֶׁיָּבוֹא אֶחָד לִהִתְגַּיֵּר מִן הָעַכּוּ"ם וְיִבְדְּקוּ אַחֲרָיו וְלֹא יִמְצְאוּ עִלָּה. אוֹמְרִים לוֹ מָה רָאִיתָ שֶׁבָּאתָ לְהִתְגַּיֵּר. אִי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה דְּווּיִים וּדְחוּפִים וּמְסֻחָפִין וּמְטֹרָפִין וְיִסּוּרִין בָּאִין עֲלֵיהֶן. אִם אָמַר אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ וְאֵינִי כְּדַאי מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד:

How do we accept righteous converts? When one comes to convert from being a Gentile and they examine him and they do not find any ulterior motive, they say to him: What did you see that made you want to convert? Don't you know that Israel in these times is rejected, swept away, disturbed, and afflictions come on them. If he says, "I know, and I am not worthy" they accept him immediately.

וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ עִקְּרֵי הַדָּת שֶׁהוּא יִחוּד הַשֵּׁם וְאִסּוּר עַכּוּ"ם. וּמַאֲרִיכִין בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה. וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ מִקְצָת מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וּמִקְצָת מִצְוֹת חֲמוּרוֹת. וְאֵין מַאֲרִיכִין בְּדָבָר זֶה. וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ עֲוֹן לֶקֶט שִׁכְחָה וּפֵאָה וּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ עָנְשָׁן שֶׁל מִצְוֹת. כֵּיצַד. אוֹמְרִים לוֹ הֱוֵי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹּא בָּאתָ לְדָת זוֹ אִם אָכַלְתָּ חֵלֶב אִי אַתָּה עָנוּשׁ כָּרֵת. אִם חִלַּלְתָּ שַׁבָּת אִי אַתָּה עָנוּשׁ סְקִילָה. וְעַכְשָׁיו אַחַר שֶׁתִּתְגַּיֵּר אִם אָכַלְתָּ חֵלֶב אַתָּה עָנוּשׁ כָּרֵת. אִם חִלַּלְתָּ שַׁבָּת אַתָּה עָנוּשׁ סְקִילָה. וְאֵין מַרְבִּין עָלָיו. וְאֵין מְדַקְדְּקִין עָלָיו. שֶׁמָּא יִגְרֹם לְטָרְדוֹ וּלְהַטּוֹתוֹ מִדֶּרֶךְ טוֹבָה לְדֶרֶךְ רָעָה. שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה אֵין מוֹשְׁכִין אֶת הָאָדָם אֶלָּא בְּדִבְרֵי רָצוֹן וְרַכִּים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (הושע יא ד) "בְּחַבְלֵי אָדָם אֶמְשְׁכֵם" וְאַחַר כָּךְ (הושע יא ד) "בַּעֲבֹתוֹת אַהֲבָה":

And they inform him of the main principles of the religion, which is the unification of G-d's name, and the prohibition of idol worship, and they dwell at length on this matter. And they inform him of some of the lenient commandments, and some of the stringent commandments. And they do not dwell at length on this. And they let him know the sin of “gatherings” “forgotten sheaves” “corners of the field” and “second tithe.” And they tell him of the punishments for not keeping the commandments. How so? They say to him: Know that before this point, if you ate forbidden suet, you would not be punished with karet, if you broke Shabbat, you would not be punished by being stoned. But now, after you have converted, if you eat forbidden fat you will be punished with karet, if you break Shabbat, you will be punished by being stoned. And they do not dwell at length on this, nor do they go into detail, lest this causes him to be troubled and turn away from the good path to the evil path. For at the beginning we do not draw a person except with words of appeasement and gentleness. I drew them with human ties, with cords of love.

וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁמּוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ עָנְשָׁן שֶׁל מִצְוֹת כָּךְ מוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל מִצְוֹת. וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבַּעֲשִׂיַּת מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ יִזְכֶּה לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְשֶׁאֵין שׁוּם צַדִּיק גָּמוּר אֶלָּא בַּעַל הַחָכְמָה שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ וְיוֹדְעָן:

And just as they inform them of the punishment for keeping commandments so too they inform them of the reward of mitzvoth, and they inform them that by doing these mitzvoth they will earn the world to come, and that no one is perfectly righteous person except for one who is a master of wisdom, who performs these commandments and knows them.

וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ הֱוֵי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא אֵינוֹ צָפוּן אֶלָּא לַצַּדִּיקִים וְהֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְזֶה שֶׁתִּרְאֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצַעַר בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה טוֹבָה הִיא צְפוּנָה לָהֶם שֶׁאֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לְקַבֵּל רֹב טוֹבָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה כָּאֻמּוֹת. שֶׁמָּא יָרוּם לִבָּם וְיִתְעוּ וְיַפְסִידוּ שְׂכַר הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לב טו) "וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט":

And they say to him: Know that the world to come is hidden only for the righteous, and this is Israel. And the reason that Israel is in pain in this world, it is a good hidden for them for they cannot accept too much goodness in this world, like the other nations, lest they get haughty, and go astray and they lose the reward of the world to come, as it says, "So Jeshurun grew fat and kicked."

וְאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶן רֹב פֻּרְעָנוּת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאבְדוּ אֶלָּא כָּל הָעַכּוּ"ם כָּלִין וְהֵן עוֹמְדִין. וּמַאֲרִיכִין בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה כְּדֵי לְחַבְּבָן. אִם חָזַר בּוֹ וְלֹא רָצָה לְקַבֵּל הוֹלֵךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ. וְאִם קִבֵּל אֵין מַשְׁהִין אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא מָלִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד. וְאִם הָיָה מָהוּל מַטִּיפִין מִמֶּנּוּ דַּם בְּרִית וּמַשְׁהִים אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה. וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַטְבִּילִין אוֹתוֹ:

And G-d does not bring on them an abundance of punishment so that they will not be lost. Rather, all of the nations of the world are finished off, and they will remain. And they go on at length about this matter, in order to endear it to them. If he retracts and does not want to accept, he can go on his way. And if he accepts, they do not delay him. Rather they circumcise him immediately. And if he was already circumcised they spill some covenantal blood, and they delay him until he fully heals, and then they immerse him.

וּשְׁלֹשָׁה עוֹמְדִין עַל גַּבָּיו וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ מִקְצָת מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וּמִקְצָת מִצְוֹת חֲמוּרוֹת פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה וְהוּא עוֹמֵד בַּמַּיִם. וְאִם הָיְתָה אִשָּׁה נָשִׁים מוֹשִׁיבוֹת אוֹתָהּ בַּמַּיִם עַד צַוָּארָהּ וְהַדַּיָּנִין מִבַּחוּץ וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתָהּ מִקְצָת מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וַחֲמוּרוֹת. וְהִיא יוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּמַּיִם וְאַחַר כָּךְ טוֹבֶלֶת בִּפְנֵיהֶם וְהֵן מַחְזִירִין פְּנֵיהֶן וְיוֹצְאִין כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּ אוֹתָהּ כְּשֶׁתַּעֲלֶה מִן הַמַּיִם:

Three [judges] stand over him and inform him about some of the easy mitzvot and some of the more severe ones a second time while he stands in the water. If the convert was female, women position her in the water until her neck while the judges are outside. They inform her about some of the easy mitzvot and some of the more severe ones while she is sitting in the water. Then she immerses herself in their presence. Afterwards, they turn their faces away and depart so that they will not see her when she ascends from the water.

אֵי זֶה הוּא גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב זֶה עַכּוּ"ם שֶׁקִּבֵּל עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה עִם שְׁאָר הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ וְלֹא מָל וְלֹא טָבַל הֲרֵי זֶה מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתוֹ וְהוּא מֵחֲסִידֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ תּוֹשָׁב לְפִי שֶׁמֻּתָּר לָנוּ לְהוֹשִׁיבוֹ בֵּינֵינוּ בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת עַכּוּ"ם:

What is meant by a resident alien? A gentile who makes a commitment not to worship false deities and to observe the other [six] universal laws commanded to Noah's descendants. He does not circumcise himself or immerse. We accept this commitment and he is considered one of the pious gentiles. Why is he called a resident? Because we are permitted to allow him to dwell among us in Eretz Yisrael, as explained in Hilchot Avodah Zarah.

וְאֵין מְקַבְּלִין גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַיּוֹבֵל נוֹהֵג. אֲבָל בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה אֲפִלּוּ קִבֵּל עָלָיו כָּל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ חוּץ מִדִּקְדּוּק אֶחָד אֵין מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתוֹ:

We accept resident aliens only during the era when the Jubilee year is observed. In the present era, even if a gentile makes a commitment to observe the entire Torah with the exception of one minor point, he is not accepted.

הָעֶבֶד הַנִּלְקָח מִן הָעַכּוּ"ם אֵין אוֹמְרִין לוֹ מָה רָאִיתָ שֶׁבָּאתָ. אֶלָּא אוֹמְרִים לוֹ רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס לִכְלַל עַבְדֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתִהְיֶה מִן הַכְּשֵׁרִים אוֹ לֹא. אִם רָצָה מוֹדִיעִין לוֹ עִקְּרֵי הַדָּת וּמִקְצָת מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וַחֲמוּרוֹת וְעָנְשָׁן וּשְׂכָרָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁמּוֹדִיעִין אֶת הַגֵּר וּמַטְבִּילִין אוֹתוֹ כְּגֵר. וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא בַּמַּיִם. וְאִם לֹא רָצָה לְקַבֵּל מְגַלְגְּלִין עָלָיו כָּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וּמוֹכְרוֹ לְעַכּוּ"ם. וְאָסוּר לְקַיְּמוֹ יוֹתֵר עַל כֵּן. וְאִם הִתְנָה עָלָיו מִתְּחִלָּה שֶׁלֹּא יָמוּל וְלֹא יִטְבּל אֶלָּא יִהְיֶה גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב מֻתָּר לְקַיְּמוֹ בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב. וְאֵין מְקַיְּמִין עֶבֶד כָּזֶה אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן הַיּוֹבֵל:

When a servant is purchased from the gentiles, we do not say: "Why did you choose to convert?" Instead, we say to him: "Do you desire to enter the category of Jewish servants and become one of the observant of them?" If he agrees, he is informed about the fundamentals of the faith, about some of the easy mitzvot and some of the more severe ones, and the punishments and rewards [associated with them] as we notify a convert. [Then] we immerse him as we immerse a convert and inform him [of the mitzvot] while he is in the water. If he does not desire to accept [the status of a servant], we are patient with him for twelve months. Afterwards, we sell him to a gentile. It is forbidden to maintain him for a longer period. If at the outset, he established a condition that he would not be circumcised or immersed, but instead would be a resident alien, it is permissible to maintain him in that status. A servant may be maintained in this status only during the era when the Jubilee is observed.

הָעַכּוּ"ם אֵין אֲסוּרִים עֲלֵיהֶם מִשּׁוּם עֶרְוָה אֶלָּא אִמּוֹ וְאֵשֶׁת אָבִיו וַאֲחוֹתוֹ מֵאִמּוֹ וְאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ וְזָכָר וּבְהֵמָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּהִלְכוֹת מְלָכִים וּמִלְחֲמוֹתֵיהֶן. אֲבָל שְׁאָר עֲרָיוֹת מֻתָּרִין לָהֶן:

The only sexual relations forbidden to a gentile are: his mother, his father's wife, his maternal sister, a married woman, a male, and an animal, as will be explained in Hilchot Melachim UMilchomoteihem. Other relations forbidden the Jews are permitted to them.

עַכּוּ"ם שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר וְעֶבֶד שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּחְרֵר הֲרֵי הוּא כְּקָטָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד. וְכָל שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא עַכּוּ"ם אוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא עֶבֶד אֵינָן שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר. וְאִם נִתְגַּיֵּר הוּא וְהֵם אֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַל אַחַת מֵהֶם מִשּׁוּם עֶרְוָה כְּלָל:

When a gentile converts or a servant is freed, he is like a newborn baby. Any relatives whom he had as a gentile or a servant are no longer considered his relatives. If both he and they convert, he is not obligated for relations with any of them.

דִּין תּוֹרָה שֶׁמֻּתָּר לְעַכּוּ"ם שֶׁיִּשָּׂא אִמּוֹ אוֹ אֲחוֹתוֹ מֵאִמּוֹ שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרוּ. אֲבָל חֲכָמִים אָסְרוּ דָּבָר זֶה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ בָּאנוּ מִקְּדֻשָּׁה חֲמוּרָה לִקְדֻשָּׁה קַלָּה. שֶׁאֶמֶשׁ הָיְתָה לוֹ זוֹ אֲסוּרָה וְהַיּוֹם מֻתֶּרֶת. וְכֵן גֵּר שֶׁבָּא עַל אִמּוֹ אוֹ אֲחוֹתוֹ וְהִיא בְּגֵיוּתָהּ הֲרֵי זֶה כְּבָא עַל הַנָּכְרִית:

According to Scriptural Law, a convert may marry his mother or his maternal sister after they convert. Nevertheless, our Sages forbade this so that [the converts] will not say: "We came from a more severe level of holiness to a less severe one. Yesterday, this [relationship] was forbidden and today, it is permitted." Similarly, when a convert engages in relations with his mother or his sister when they have not converted, it is considered as if he had relations with a woman with whom he was not related.

כֵּיצַד דִּין הַגֵּרִים בַּעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁל שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר. אִם הָיָה נָשׂוּי כְּשֶׁהוּא עַכּוּ"ם לְאִמּוֹ אוֹ לַאֲחוֹתוֹ וְנִתְגַּיְּרוּ מַפְרִישִׁין אוֹתָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְאִם הָיָה נָשׂוּי לִשְׁאָר עֲרָיוֹת וְנִתְגַּיֵּר הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ אֵין מַפְרִישִׁין אוֹתָן. גֵּר אָסוּר בִּשְׁאֵר הָאֵם אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. וּמֻתָּר בִּשְׁאֵר הָאָב אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁזֶּה שְׁאֵרוֹ מֵאָבִיו. כְּגוֹן תְּאוֹמִים שֶׁדָּבָר בָּרוּר שֶׁאָבִיו שֶׁל זֶה הוּא אָבִיו שֶׁל זֶה אַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא גָּזְרוּ עַל שְׁאֵר אָבִיו. לְפִיכָךְ נוֹשֵׂא הַגֵּר אֵשֶׁת אָחִיו מֵאָבִיו וְאֵשֶׁת אֲחִי אָבִיו וְאֵשֶׁת אָבִיו וְאֵשֶׁת בְּנוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְאָחִיו אוֹ לְאָבִיו אוֹ לַאֲחִי אָבִיו אוֹ לִבְנוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרוּ. וְכֵן אֲחוֹת אִמּוֹ מֵאָבִיהָ וַאֲחוֹתוֹ מֵאָבִיו. וּבִתּוֹ שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרָה מֻתֶּרֶת לוֹ. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ נוֹשֵׂא לֹא אֲחוֹתוֹ מֵאִמּוֹ וְלֹא אֲחוֹת אִמּוֹ מֵאִמָּהּ וְלֹא אֵשֶׁת אָחִיו מֵאִמּוֹ שֶׁנְּשָׂאָהּ אָחִיו מֵאִמּוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר. אֲבָל אִם נְשָׂאָהּ אָחִיו כְּשֶׁהוּא עַכּוּ"ם הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת לוֹ:

What is the law that applies to converts with regard to relations with their relatives. As we explained, if one was married while a gentile to his mother or his sister and they converted, we separate them as explained [above]. If he was married to any one of the other forbidden relations and he and his wife converted, they are not forced to separate. A convert is forbidden to marry his maternal relatives after they convert according to Rabbinic Law. He may, however, marry his paternal relatives. [This applies] even when he certainly knows that these persons are his paternal relatives, for example, twins, in which instance it is clear that the father of one is the father of the other. Nevertheless, our Sages did not enforce a decree with regard to one's paternal relatives. Accordingly, a convert may marry the wife of his paternal brother, the wife of his father's brother, his father's wife, and his son's wife. [This applies] even if they married his brother, his father, his father's brother, or his son after they converted. Similarly, his mother's paternal sister, his paternal sister, and his daughter who converted are permitted to him. He may not, however, marry his maternal sister, his mother's maternal sister, nor a woman who married his maternal brother after he converted. If, however, a woman married his brother while he was a gentile, she is permitted to him.

שְׁנֵי אַחִים תְּאוֹמִים שֶׁהָיְתָה הוֹרָתָן שֶׁלֹּא בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וְלֵדָתָן בִּקְדֻשָּׁה חַיָּבִין מִשּׁוּם אֵשֶׁת אָח:

When two twin brothers were not conceived in a state of holiness, but they were born in a state of holiness, each are liable [for relations with the other's wife] because of the prohibition against relations with a brother's wife.

הַנּוֹשֵׂא גִּיֹּרֶת וּבִתָּהּ הַגִּיֹּרֶת אוֹ שְׁתֵּי אֲחָיוֹת מִן הָאֵם יוֹשֵׁב עִם אַחַת מֵהֶן וּמְגָרֵשׁ הַשְּׁנִיָּה. נָשָׂא גִּיֹּרֶת וּמֵתָה הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא אִמָּהּ אוֹ בִּתָּהּ שֶׁלֹּא גָּזְרוּ אֶלָּא בְּחַיֵּיהֶן. וּמֻתָּר לְאָדָם לִשָּׂא שְׁתֵּי אֲחָיוֹת גִּיּוֹרוֹת מִן הָאָב שֶׁלֹּא גָּזְרוּ בִּשְׁאֵר הָאָב כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

When a man marries a female convert and her daughter who converted or two maternal sisters [who converted], he should remain married to one of them and divorce the other. If he married a female convert and she died, he is permitted to marry her mother or her daughter. For our Sages ordained their decree only during [the woman's] lifetime. It is permissible for a man to marry two paternal sisters who converted, for our Sages did not ordain any decrees with regard to paternal relations, as explained.

הַשְּׁנִיּוֹת כֻּלָּן לֹא גָּזְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶן בְּגֵרִים. לְפִיכָךְ מֻתָּר הַגֵּר לִשָּׂא אֵם אִמּוֹ. וְנוֹשֵׂא אָדָם גִּיֹּרֶת וְאֵם אִמָּהּ אוֹ בַּת בַּת בִּתָּהּ. וְכֵן בִּשְׁאָר הַשְּׁנִיּוֹת:

[Our Sages] did not ordain any decrees with regard to shniot who convert. Therefore a convert may marry his maternal grandmother. Similarly, a person may marry a convert and the mother of her maternal grandmother or her and the daughter of her daughter's daughter. Similar laws apply with regard to the remainder of the shniot.

הָעֶבֶד מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא אִמּוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא עֶבֶד וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר בִּתּוֹ וַאֲחוֹתוֹ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן שֶׁכְּבָר יָצָא מִכְּלַל עַכּוּ"ם. וְאֵין הָעֲרָיוֹת הָאֲסוּרוֹת עַל הָעַכּוּ"ם אֲסוּרוֹת עָלָיו וְלֹא בָּא לִכְלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּאָסְרוּ עָלָיו עֲרָיוֹת הָאֲסוּרוֹת עַל הַגֵּרִים:

A servant is permitted to marry his mother while he is a servant. Needless to say, this applies with regard to his daughter, his sister, or the like. [Since] he has already departed from the category of gentiles, the intimate relations forbidden to the gentiles are not forbidden to him. And [since] he has not entered the category of the Jewish people, the intimate relations that are forbidden to the converts are not yet forbidden to him.

וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁאִם בָּא הָעֶבֶד עַל הַזָּכוּר וּבְהֵמָה יֵהָרֵגוּ. שֶׁאִסּוּר שְׁתֵּי עֲרָיוֹת אֵלּוּ שָׁוֶה בְּכָל הָאָדָם:

It appears to me that if a servant engages in homosexual or Sodomite relations, they should be executed. For these two prohibitions are universally applicable.

עֲבָדִים שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּחְרְרוּ הֲרֵי הֵן כְּגֵרִים. כָּל שֶׁאָסוּר לְגֵרִים אָסוּר לָהֶן וְכָל הַמֻּתָּר לְגֵרִים מֻתָּר לָהֶן. נוֹתֵן אָדָם שִׁפְחָתוֹ לְעַבְדּוֹ אוֹ לְעֶבֶד חֲבֵרוֹ. וּמוֹסֵר שִׁפְחָה אַחַת לִשְׁנֵי עֲבָדִים לְכַתְּחִלָּה וְאֵינָן צְרִיכִין שׁוּם דָּבָר אֶלָּא הֲרֵי הֵן כִּבְהֵמוֹת. וְשִׁפְחָה שֶׁהִיא מְיֻחֶדֶת לְעֶבֶד אוֹ שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְיֻחֶדֶת אַחַת הִיא לְפִי שֶׁאֵין אִישׁוּת אֶלָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹ לְעַכּוּ"ם עַל הָעַכּוּ"ם אֲבָל לֹא לַעֲבָדִים עַל הָעֲבָדִים וְלֹא לַעֲבָדִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Servants who are freed are like converts. All of the relationships forbidden to converts are forbidden to them and all those permitted to converts are permitted to them. A person may give his maid-servant to his own servant or to a servant belonging to his colleague. At the outset, he may give one maid-servant to two servants. Nor must they follow any restrictions. Instead, they are like animals. There is no difference whether a maid-servant is set aside for a servant or not, for there is no concept of marriage except within the Jewish people or among gentiles themselves, but not among servants themselves or between servants and the Jewish people.