Forbidden Intercourse Chapter 15

אֵי זֶהוּ (דברים כג ג) "מַמְזֵר" הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה. זֶה הַבָּא מֵעֶרְוָה מִן הָעֲרָיוֹת. חוּץ מִן הַנִּדָּה שֶׁהַבֵּן מִמֶּנָּה פָּגוּם וְאֵינוֹ מַמְזֵר. אֲבָל הַבָּא עַל שְׁאָר הָעֲרָיוֹת בֵּין בְּאֹנֶס בֵּין בְּרָצוֹן בֵּין בְּזָדוֹן בֵּין בִּשְׁגָגָה הַוָּלָד מַמְזֵר. וְאֶחָד זְכָרִים וְאֶחָד נְקֵבוֹת אֲסוּרִין לְעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג ג) "גַּם דּוֹר עֲשִׂירִי" כְּלוֹמַר לְעוֹלָם:

1. What is meant by the Torah's prohibition (Deut. 23:3) against relations with a mamzer? [The term refers to a person conceived from] a forbidden sexual relationship. A niddah is an exception. A son conceived from such relationships is blemished, but is not a mamzer. When, however, a man enters into any other forbidden sexual relationships, whether through rape, or willingly, whether conscious of the prohibition or not, the offspring produced is a mamzer. Both male and female [mamzerim] are forbidden forever, as [Deuteronomy 23:3] states: "[A mamzer shall not enter Gd's congregation.] Also the tenth generation...," i.e., [the prohibition is] everlasting.

אֶחָד מַמְזֵר שֶׁנָּשָׂא יִשְׂרְאֵלִית אוֹ יִשְׂרְאֵלִי שֶׁנָּשָׂא מַמְזֶרֶת כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּעֲלוּ אַחַר הַקִּדּוּשִׁין לוֹקִין. קִדֵּשׁ וְלֹא בָּעַל אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה. בָּעַל וְלֹא קִדֵּשׁ אֵינָן לוֹקִין מִשּׁוּם מַמְזֵרוּת שֶׁאֵין לְךָ בְּכָל חַיָּבֵי לָאוִין מִי שֶׁלּוֹקֶה עַל בְּעִילָה בְּלֹא קִדּוּשִׁין אֶלָּא כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּאַלְמָנָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר. הַמַּחֲזִיר גְּרוּשָׁתוֹ מִשֶּׁנִּשֵּׂאת הַוָּלָד כָּשֵׁר שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינָהּ עֶרְוָה:

2. When a mamzer marries a Jewish women or a Jewish man marries a female mamzer, once they enter into relations after consecration, they are punished by lashes. If the man consecrates the woman, but does not enter into relations, he does not receive lashes. If they enter into relations without consecration, they do not receive lashes because of relations with a mamzer. For the only instance where relations that involve a negative prohibition incur the punishment of lashes without the woman being consecrated is relations between a High Priest and a widow, as will be explained. When a man remarries his divorcee after she married another person, the offspring are acceptable. For she is not considered an ervah.

עַכּוּ"ם וְעֶבֶד הַבָּא עַל בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַוָּלָד כָּשֵׁר בֵּין פְּנוּיָה בֵּין בְּאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ בֵּין בְּאֹנֶס בֵּין בְּרָצוֹן. עַכּוּ"ם וְעֶבֶד הַבָּאִים עַל הַמַּמְזֶרֶת הַוָּלָד מַמְזֵר. וּמַמְזֵר הַבָּא עַל הָעַכּוּ"ם הַוָּלָד עַכּוּ"ם. נִתְגַּיֵּר הֲרֵי הוּא כָּשֵׁר כִּשְׁאָר גֵּרִים. וְאִם בָּא עַל הַשִּׁפְחָה הַוָּלָד עֶבֶד. שִׁחְרְרוֹ הַוָּלָד כָּשֵׁר כִּשְׁאָר עֲבָדִים מְשֻׁחְרָרִין וּמֻתָּר בְּבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל:

3. When a gentile or a servant enter into relations with a Jewish woman, the child is acceptable. [This applies] whether the woman is unmarried or married, whether she was raped or engaged in relations willingly. When a gentile or a servant enter into relations with a female mamzer, the offspring is a mamzer. When a mamzer enters into relations with a female gentile, the offspring is a gentile. If [the child] converts, he is fit to marry within the Jewish people like other converts. If [a mamzer] enters into relations with a maid-servant, the offspring is a servant. If he is freed, the offspring is acceptable like other freed servants. He may marry a Jewish woman.

זֶה הַכְּלָל בֵּן הַבָּא מִן הָעֶבֶד אוֹ מִן הָעַכּוּ"ם אוֹ מִן הַשִּׁפְחָה אוֹ מִן בַּת עַכּוּ"ם הֲרֵי הוּא כְּאִמּוֹ וְאֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין עַל הָאָב. לְפִי דָּבָר זֶה הִתִּירוּ לְמַמְזֵר לִשָּׂא שִׁפְחָה כְּדֵי לְטַהֵר אֶת בָּנָיו שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא מְשַׁחְרֵר אוֹתָם וְנִמְצְאוּ בְּנֵי חוֹרִין. וְלֹא גָּזְרוּ עַל הַשִּׁפְחָה לְמַמְזֵר מִפְּנֵי תַּקָּנַת הַבָּנִים:

4. This is the general principle: When a child is born from a servant, a gentile, a maid-servant, or a female gentile, he is like his mother. We are not concerned with the father. For this reason, [the Sages] permitted a mamzer to marry a maid-servant to purify the lineage of his descendants. For he can free them and they will be free men. [Our Sages] did not ordain a decree forbidding a maid-servant to a mamzer, so that he can legitimize his sons.

מִי שֶׁחֶצְיוֹ עֶבֶד וְחֶצְיוֹ בֶּן חוֹרִין הַבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ אוֹתוֹ הַבֵּן אֵין לוֹ תַּקָּנָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצַּד מַמְזֵרוּת וְצַד כַּשְׁרוּת מְעֹרָבִין בּוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ אָסוּר בְּשִׁפְחָה וְנִמְצְאוּ בָּנָיו כְּמוֹתוֹ לְעוֹלָם:

5. When a person who is half a servant and half a freed man engages in relations with a married woman, a son born of that relationship has no way of legitimizing [his marriage relationships], because the dimension of him which is a mamzer and the dimension of him which is an acceptable Jew are intermingled. Therefore he is forbidden to engage in relations with a maid-servant and his offspring share his status forever.

עַכּוּ"ם הַבָּא עַל הַשִּׁפְחָה שֶׁטָּבְלָה הֲרֵי זֶה עֶבֶד וְעֶבֶד שֶׁטָּבַל שֶׁבָּא עַל עַכּוּ"ם הַוָּלָד עַכּוּ"ם הַלֵּךְ אַחַר הָאֵם אֲבָל עַכּוּ"ם הַבָּא עַל שִׁפְחָה עַכּוּ"ם אוֹ עֶבֶד עַכּוּ"ם שֶׁבָּא עַל עַכּוּ"ם בַּת חוֹרִין הַלֵּךְ אַחַר הַזָּכָר:

6. When a gentile engages in relations with a maid-servant who immersed herself, the offspring are servants. When a servant who immersed himself engages in relations with a female gentile, the offspring are gentile. He is given his mother's status. When, however, a gentile engages relations with a gentile maid-servant or a gentile servant engages relations with a gentile woman, the status of the offspring follows that of the father.

מַמְזֵר מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא גִּיֹּרֶת. וְכֵן הַמַּמְזֶרֶת מֻתֶּרֶת לְגֵר. וְהַבָּנִים מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם מַמְזֵרִים שֶׁהַוָּלָד הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר הַפָּגוּם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג ג) "בִּקְהַל ה'" וּקְהַל גֵּרִים אֵינוֹ קָרוּי (דברים כג ג) "קְהַל ה'":

7. A mamzer may marry a female convert and a female mamzer may marry a male convert, the offspring of both relationships are mamzerim. For the status of the offspring follows that of the blemished one. [The license for such a marriage is derived from] the verse: "[A mamzer shall not enter] G-d's congregation." (Deut. 23:3) The congregation of converts is not considered as "G-d's congregation." (ibid)

גִּיֹּרֶת שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְגֵר וְהוֹלִידוּ בֵּן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוֹרָתוֹ וְלֵדָתוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בְּמַמְזֶרֶת. וְכֵן בֶּן בֶּן בְּנוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּקַּע שֵׁם גֵּרוּתוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא יִוָּדַע שֶׁהוּא גֵּר וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵאָסֵר בְּמַמְזֶרֶת. וְאֶחָד הַגֵּרִים וְאֶחָד הָעֲבָדִים מְשֻׁחְרָרִין דִּין אֶחָד לְכֻלָּן:

8. When a female convert marries a male convert and gives birth to a son, he is permitted to marry a female mamzer even though he was both conceived and born in holiness. This also applies to the son of his grandson [- or any other descendant -] until his connection with conversion is forgotten and it is not known that he [descends from] converts. Afterwards, he will be forbidden to marry a female mamzer. Converts and freed servants are bound by the same laws.

גֵּר שֶׁנָּשָׂא בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנָּשָׂא גִּיֹּרֶת הַוָּלָד יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכָל דָּבָר וְאָסוּר בְּמַמְזֶרֶת:

9. When a convert marries a native-born Jewess or a native-born Jew marries a convert, the son is a Jew in all contexts and is forbidden to marry a female mamzer.

שְׁלֹשָׁה מַמְזֵרִים הֵם. מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי וּמַמְזֵר סָפֵק וּמַמְזֵר מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. אֵי זֶהוּ מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי זֶה שֶׁבָּא מִן הָעֶרְוָה הַוַּדָּאִית כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וּמַמְזֵר סָפֵק זֶה שֶׁבָּא מִסְּפֵק עֶרְוָה כְּגוֹן הַבָּא עַל הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁנִּתְקַדְּשָׁה סְפֵק קִדּוּשִׁין אוֹ נִתְגָּרְשָׁה סְפֵק גֵּרוּשִׁין וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. כְּגוֹן הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה שֶׁמֵּת בַּעְלָהּ וְנִשֵּׂאת וַהֲרֵי בַּעְלָהּ קַיָּם וּבָא בַּעְלָהּ הָרִאשׁוֹן עָלֶיהָ וְהִיא תַּחַת הַשֵּׁנִי הֲרֵי הַבֵּן מַמְזֵר מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים:

10. There are three categories of mamzerim: one that is definitely a mamzer, a mamzer whose status is a matter of doubt, and a mamzer by Rabbinic decree. What is meant by one who is definitely a mamzer? The offspring of a relationship that is definitely incestuous or adulterous, as we explained. A mamzer whose status is a matter of doubt is the offspring of a relationship that we are unsure whether it is adulterous or incestuous. For example, a man engaged in relations with a woman who was consecrated, but we are unsure if the consecration was effective, or who was divorced, but we are unsure whether the divorce was effective, or a similar situation. A mamzer by Rabbinic decree: for example, a woman who heard that her husband died and remarried and then discovered that her husband was alive. Afterwards, her [first] husband engaged in relations with her while she was still married with her second husband, the offspring is a mamzer by Rabbinic decree.

פְּנוּיָה שֶׁנִּתְעַבְּרָה מִזְּנוּת אָמְרוּ לָהּ מַהוּ הָעֻבָּר הַזֶּה אוֹ הַיָּלוּד הַזֶּה אִם אָמְרָה בֵּן כָּשֵׁר הוּא וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל נִבְעַלְתִּי הֲרֵי זוֹ נֶאֱמֶנֶת וְהַבֵּן כָּשֵׁר. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁרֹב הָעִיר שֶׁזִּנְּתָה בָּהּ פְּסוּלִים:

11. When an unmarried woman becomes pregnant through a promiscuous relationship, we ask her: "What is [the status of] this fetus" or "...this child"? If she replies: "It is the child of a man of acceptable lineage; I entered into relations with an Israelite," her word is accepted and the son is acceptable. [This applies] even if most of the inhabitants of the city in which she engaged in relations are of unacceptable lineage.

וְאִם לֹא נִבְדְּקָה אִמּוֹ עַד שֶׁמֵּתָה אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה חֵרֶשֶׁת אוֹ אִלֶּמֶת אוֹ שׁוֹטָה אוֹ שֶׁאָמְרָה לִפְלוֹנִי הַמַּמְזֵר נִבְעַלְתִּי אוֹ לִפְלוֹנִי הַנָּתִין אֲפִלּוּ אוֹתוֹ פְּלוֹנִי מוֹדֶה שֶׁהוּא מִמֶּנּוּ הֲרֵי זֶה הַיָּלוּד סְפֵק מַמְזֵר. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁזִּנְּתָה עִם זֶה שֶׁהוֹדָה לָהּ כָּךְ זִנְּתָה עִם אַחֵר. וְזֶה הוּא הַנִּקְרָא שְׁתוּקִי שֶׁמַּכִּיר אֶת אִמּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מַכִּיר אֶת אָבִיו וַדַּאי:

12. If the child's mother was not questioned until she died, or she was a deaf-mute, mute, or intellectually or emotionally unstable, we consider the child as a mamzer whose status is questionable. [This ruling applies even] if she said: "I engaged in relations with so-and-so, the mamzer" or "...with so-and-so, the netin." Even if that person agrees with her statement, [the child's status is only doubtful. The rationale is:] Just as she engaged in relations with the person who admitted to her statement; so, too, she engaged in relations with others.

וְכֵן הַבֵּן הַנִּמְצָא בַּשּׁוּק וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא אֲסוּפִי הֲרֵי הוּא סְפֵק מַמְזֵר שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים מַה הוּא:

Similarly, a child that is found in the marketplace - he is called an asufi - is considered as a mamzer whose status is questionable. for we do not know his [lineage].

פְּנוּיָה שֶׁזִּנְּתָה וְאָמְרָה בֵּן זֶה בֶּן פְּלוֹנִי הוּא. אִם אוֹתוֹ פְּלוֹנִי כָּשֵׁר הֲרֵי הַבֵּן כָּשֵׁר וְאֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת לִהְיוֹת זֶה בְּנוֹ שֶׁל פְּלוֹנִי. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁחוֹשְׁשִׁין לִדְבָרֶיהָ וְיִהְיֶה הַבֵּן אָסוּר בִּקְרוֹבוֹת אוֹתוֹ פְּלוֹנִי מִסָּפֵק. וְאִם אוֹתוֹ פְּלוֹנִי מַמְזֵר אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת לִהְיוֹת הַבֵּן מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי עַל פִּיהָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ אֶלָּא יִהְיֶה סְפֵק מַמְזֵר:

[The following rules apply when] an unmarried woman engages in promiscuous relations says: "This child is the son of so-and-so." If that person is of acceptable lineage, the son is considered acceptable. Nevertheless, her word is not accepted for the child to be considered as the man's son. It appears to me, however, that we give consideration to her words and because of the doubt, that child is forbidden to marry the relatives of the [named] person. If the [named] person is a mamzer, we do not accept her word to definitely deem the offspring as a mamzer on this basis, as we explained. Instead, we consider the child as a mamzer whose status is questionable.

אֲבָל הָאָב שֶׁהֻחְזַק שֶׁזֶּה בְּנוֹ וְאָמַר בְּנִי זֶה מַמְזֵר הוּא נֶאֱמָן. וְאִם יֵשׁ לַבֵּן בָּנִים אֵינוֹ נֶאֱמָן. שֶׁלֹּא הֶאֱמִינָה אוֹתוֹ תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל בְּנוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא יז) "כִּי אֶת הַבְּכֹר בֶּן הַשְּׂנוּאָה יַכִּיר" יַכִּירֶנּוּ לַאֲחֵרִים:

[Different laws apply with regard to] a father who [makes statements with regard to] a child who is presumed to be his son. If he says: "This son of mine is a mamzer," his word is accepted. If the son himself has children, his word is not accepted. For the Torah accepted his word with regard to his son alone. [This is derived from Deuteronomy 21:17:] "He will recognize the firstborn, the son of the hated." [Implied is that] he makes his identity known to others.

וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמָן לוֹמַר בְּנִי זֶה בְּכוֹר כָּךְ נֶאֱמָן לוֹמַר בְּנִי זֶה מַמְזֵר אוֹ בֶּן גְּרוּשָׁה אוֹ בֶּן חֲלוּצָה. וְכֵן אִם הָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ מְעֻבֶּרֶת נֶאֱמָן לוֹמַר עֻבָּר זֶה אֵינוֹ בְּנִי וּמַמְזֵר הוּא וְיִהְיֶה מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי. וְהָאוֹמֵר עַל עַצְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא מַמְזֵר נֶאֱמָן לֶאֱסֹר עַצְמוֹ בְּבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאָסוּר בְּמַמְזֶרֶת עַד שֶׁיִּוָּדַע וַדַּאי שֶׁהוּא מַמְזֵר. וּבְנוֹ כָּמוֹהוּ. וְאִם יֵשׁ לוֹ בְּנֵי בָּנִים אֵינוֹ נֶאֱמָן לִפְסל בְּנֵי בָּנָיו וְלֹא יִפְסל אֶלָּא עַצְמוֹ:

Just as a father's word is accepted when he says: "This son of mine is my firstborn," so, too, his word is accepted if he says: "This son of mine is a mamzer," or "...the son of a divorced woman" or "...the son of a woman who performed chalitzah." Similarly, if his wife was pregnant, his word is accepted if he says: "This fetus is not my child. It is a mamzer." The child is definitely deemed as a mamzer. If a person says that he himself is a mamzer, his word is accepted with regard to the prohibition against him marrying a native-born Jewess. He is, however, forbidden to marry a female mamzer until it is definitely known that he is a mamzer. The same laws apply to his son. If he has grandchildren, his word is not accepted with regard to the disqualification of his grandchildren. He can disqualify only himself.

אֲרוּסָה שֶׁנִּתְעַבְּרָה וְהִיא בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ הֲרֵי הַוָּלָד בְּחֶזְקַת מַמְזֵר וְאָסוּר בְּבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָסוּר בְּמַמְזֶרֶת. וְאִם נִבְדְּקָה אִמּוֹ וְאָמְרָה מֵאֲרוּסִי נִתְעַבַּרְתִּי נֶאֱמֶנֶת וְהַוָּלָד כָּשֵׁר. וְאִם הִכְחִישָׁהּ הָאָרוּס וְאָמַר מֵעוֹלָם לֹא בָּאתִי עָלֶיהָ הֲרֵי הַוָּלָד מַמְזֵר שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ הָיָה בְּחֶזְקַת בְּנוֹ וְאָמַר בְּנִי זֶה מַמְזֵר נֶאֱמָן. וְהָאִשָּׁה אֵינָהּ בְּחֶזְקַת זוֹנָה אֶלָּא נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֹמַר לָאָרוּס נִבְעַלְתִּי וְאֵינָהּ זוֹנָה. וְאִם נִשֵּׂאת לְכֹהֵן לֹא תֵּצֵא וּוְלָדָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ כָּשֵׁר:

[The following laws apply when] a woman who was consecrated becomes pregnant in her father's home. The offspring is assumed to be a mamzer. He is forbidden to marry both a native-born Jewess and a female mamzer. If his mother was questioned and said: "I became pregnant from the man who consecrated me," her word is accepted and the child is considered acceptable. If, however, that man contravenes her and says: "I never engaged in relations with her," the child is considered a mamzer. For even if the child was assumed to be his son, his word is accepted if he says: "My son is a mamzer." [Even in the latter situation,] the woman is not assumed to be a zonah. Instead, her word is accepted if she says: "I engaged in relations with the man who consecrated me." [Since] she is not a zonah, if she married a priest, she need not be divorced and offspring which she bears him are acceptable [as priests].

הָיוּ הָעָם מְרַנְּנִים אַחֲרֶיהָ וְהִיא אֲרוּסָה עִם אֲרוּסָהּ וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים אֲחֵרִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבָּא עָלֶיהָ אֲרוּסָהּ בְּבֵית חָמִיו הֲרֵי זֶה סְפֵק מַמְזֵר. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִפְקִירָה עַצְמָהּ לַאֲרוּסָהּ הִפְקִירָה לַאֲחֵרִים. וְאִם נִבְדְּקָה וְאָמְרָה עֻבָּר זֶה מֵאֲרוּסִי הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

If people at large gossip about her while she is consecrated, [saying that] she was promiscuous with the man to whom she was consecrated and with others, the child is a mamzer whose status is questionable. [This applies] even if the man to whom she was consecrated was intimate with her in her father's home. For just as she acted loosely with the man to whom she was consecrated, she could have acted loosely with others. If she was questioned and said: "This fetus was conceived by the man to whom I am consecrated," the child is acceptable as explained [above].

אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ שֶׁהָיְתָה מְעֻבֶּרֶת וְאָמְרָה עֻבָּר זֶה אֵינוֹ מִבַּעֲלִי אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת לְפָסְלוֹ. וַהֲרֵי הַבֵּן בְּחֶזְקַת כַּשְׁרוּת. שֶׁלֹּא הֶאֱמִינָה תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא הָאָב. אָמַר הָאָב אֵינוֹ בְּנִי אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בַּעְלָהּ בִּמְדִינַת הַיָּם הֲרֵי זֶה בְּחֶזְקַת מַמְזֵר. וְאִם אָמְרָה מֵעַכּוּ"ם וְעֶבֶד נִתְעַבַּרְתִּי הֲרֵי הַוָּלָד כָּשֵׁר. שֶׁאֵין הַבַּעַל יָכוֹל לְהַכְחִישָׁהּ בִּדְבָרֶיהָ. וְאֵין הָעֻבָּר מִשְׁתַּהֶה בִּמְעֵי אִמּוֹ יֶתֶר עַל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ:

When a married woman is pregnant and says: "This fetus is not my husband's," her word is not accepted to render the child illegitimate. [Instead,] we assume that the child is acceptable. For the Torah accepted only the word of the father. If the father says that it is not his son or he is overseas, we assume that the son is a mamzer. If the woman said: "I was impregnated by a gentile," or "...by a servant," the child is acceptable. For the husband cannot deny her words. A fetus will not remain in its mother's womb for more than twelve months.

אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ שֶׁיָּצָא עָלֶיהָ קוֹל שֶׁהָיְתָה זוֹנָה תַּחַת בַּעְלָהּ וְהַכּל מְרַנְּנִין אַחֲרֶיהָ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לְבָנֶיהָ שֶׁמָּא מַמְזֵרִים הֵם שֶׁרֹב בְּעִילוֹת אֵצֶל הַבַּעַל. וּמֻתָּר לִשָּׂא בִּתָּהּ לְכַתְּחִלָּה. אֲבָל הִיא עַצְמָהּ חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ מִשּׁוּם זוֹנָה. וְאִם הָיְתָה פְּרוּצָה יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי אַף לְבָנֶיהָ חוֹשְׁשִׁין:

Although there is a rumor circulating to the fact that a woman has committed adultery and everyone is gossiping about her, we do not suspect that her children are mamzerim. [The rationale is that] the person who most frequently has relations with her is her husband. It is permitted to marry her daughter, even as an initial and preferred option. With regard to her own status, we suspect that she is a zonah. If her conduct was very lewd, we also suspect the lineage of her children.

דִּין תּוֹרָה שֶׁסְּפֵק מַמְזֵר מֻתָּר לָבוֹא בַּקָּהָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג ג) "לֹא יָבֹא מַמְזֵר בִּקְהַל ה'" מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי אָסוּר לָבוֹא בַּקָּהָל וְלֹא סָפֵק. אֲבָל חֲכָמִים עָשׂוּ מַעֲלָה בְּיוּחֲסִין וְאָסְרוּ גַּם הַסְּפֵקוֹת לָבוֹא בַּקָּהָל. לְפִיכָךְ מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא מַמְזֶרֶת וַדָּאִית אֲבָל מַמְזֵר סָפֵק אוֹ שְׁתוּקִי אוֹ אֲסוּפִי אָסוּר לִשָּׂא בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל:

According to Scriptural Law, a person suspected of being a mamzer is permitted to marry among the Jewish people. [Deuteronomy 23:3] states: "A mamzer shall not enter G-d's congregation." [Implied is that] one who is definitively a mamzer may not marry among the Jewish people, not one whose status is questionable. Nevertheless, our Sages raised the level [of purity required] with regard to lineage and forbade those of questionable status from marrying among the Jewish people. Accordingly, a male and a female who are definitely mamzerim may marry. A mamzer whose status is a matter of doubt, a shituki, or an asufi are forbidden to marry native-born Jewesses.

וְאָסוּר לִשָּׂא מַמְזֶרֶת וַאֲפִלּוּ מַמְזֶרֶת מִסָּפֵק אֲסוּרָה לוֹ שֶׁמָּא אֶחָד מֵהֶן אֵינוֹ מַמְזֵר וְהַשֵּׁנִי מַמְזֵר וַדַּאי. וּמַמְזֵר שֶׁל דִּבְרֵיהֶם מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא מַמְזֶרֶת שֶׁל דִּבְרֵיהֶם. וְכֵן שְׁאָר הַסְּפֵקוֹת אֲסוּרִין לִשָּׂא זֶה מִזֶּה:

[A man of the latter status] is forbidden to marry a female mamzer. Even a female mamzer whose status is questionable is forbidden to him. For perhaps one of them is not a mamzer, but the other is definitely a mamzer. A mamzer by Rabbinic decree may marry a female mamzer by Rabbinic decree. Similarly, in any other instances [where a person is forbidden to marry] because of a doubt, one person of this status may not marry another.

כֵּיצַד. שְׁתוּקִים וַאֲסוּפִים וּסְפֵק מַמְזֵרִים אֲסוּרִים לָבוֹא זֶה עִם זֶה וְאִם נָשְׂאוּ לֹא יְקַיְּמוּ אֶלָּא יוֹצִיאוּ בְּגֵט וְהַוָּלָד סָפֵק כַּאֲבוֹתָיו. וְאֵין לִסְפֵקוֹת אֵלּוּ תַּקָּנָה אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּשְּׂאוּ מִן הַגֵּרִים וְהַוָּלָד הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר הַפָּגוּם:

What is implied? Shitukim, asufim, and those whose status as mamzerim is indefinite are forbidden to marry each other. If they married, the union may not be maintained. Instead, they must divorce with a formal bill of divorce. The offspring of such relationships are [mamzerim of] indefinite status like their parents. Individuals of indefinite status like this have no option except to marry converts. The status of their offspring follows their blemish.

כֵּיצַד. שְׁתוּקִי אוֹ אֲסוּפִי שֶׁנָּשָׂא גִּיֹּרֶת אוֹ מְשֻׁחְרֶרֶת אוֹ גֵּר וּמְשֻׁחְרָר שֶׁנָּשָׂא שְׁתוּקִית אוֹ אֲסוּפִית. הַוָּלָד שְׁתוּקִי אוֹ אֲסוּפִי:

What is implied? When a shituki or an asufi marries a female convert or a freed maid-servant, a convert, or a freed servant marries a female shituki or asufi, the offspring are shitukim or asufim.

הָאֲסוּפִי שֶׁנִּמְצָא בְּעִיר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ עַכּוּ"ם בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה רֹב עַכּוּ"ם אוֹ רֹב יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲרֵי זֶה סְפֵק עַכּוּ"ם לְעִנְיַן יוּחֲסִין. קִדֵּשׁ אִשָּׁה צְרִיכָה גֵּט מִסָּפֵק. מִי שֶׁהֲרָגוֹ לֹא הָיָה נֶהֱרַג עָלָיו:

When an asufi is found in a city inhabited by gentiles, whether the majority are gentiles or the majority are Jews, the child is considered as a gentile of indefinite status with regard to his lineage. If he consecrates a woman, she needs a bill of divorce because of the doubt. If someone kills him, he is not executed for doing so.

הִטְבִּילוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין לְשֵׁם גֵּרוּת אוֹ שֶׁטָּבַל מִשֶּׁהִגְדִּיל הֲרֵי הוּא כִּשְׁאָר אֲסוּפִים הַנִּמְצָאִים בְּעָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. הָיָה רֹב הָעִיר עַכּוּ"ם מֻתָּר לְהַאֲכִילוֹ נְבֵלוֹת. הָיָה רֻבָּן יִשְׂרָאֵל מַחְזִירִין לוֹ אֲבֵדָתוֹ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. מֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה מִצְוָה לְהַחֲיוֹתוֹ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּמְפַקְּחִין עָלָיו אֶת הַגַּל בְּשַׁבָּת וַהֲרֵי הוּא לְעִנְיַן נְזָקִין כְּכָל סְפֵק מָמוֹן הַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה:

If the court had him immersed for the sake of conversion or he immersed on his own initiative after he attained majority, his status is the same as any asufi that is found in Jewish cities. If the majority of the inhabitants of the city are gentile, it is permitted to feed him meat from animals that were not ritually slaughtered. If the majority were Jewish, we return his lost articles as is the law with regard to Jews. If the populations are equally balanced, it is a mitzvah to maintain his life and we remove an avalanche from him on the Sabbath. With regard to damages, we follow the same principle that applies in all cases of doubt in financial law: When a person who seeks to expropriate [money] from a colleague, the burden of proof is upon him.

יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁכָּל מְדִינָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שִׁפְחָה אוֹ עַכּוּ"ם הָרְאוּיָה לֵילֵד הוֹאִיל וְהָאֲסוּפִי הַנִּמְצָא שָׁם סְפֵק עַכּוּ"ם אוֹ סְפֵק עֶבֶד כְּשֶׁיִּשָּׂא הַגִּיֹּרֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ הֲרֵי זוֹ סְפֵק אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ וְהַבָּא עָלֶיהָ פָּטוּר שֶׁאֵין הוֹרְגִין עַל סָפֵק. וְכֵן יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁהַשְּׁתוּקִי שֶׁנָּשָׂא אִשָּׁה שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁהִיא עֶרְוָה עָלָיו וַהֲרֵי הִיא סְפֵק אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ שֶׁאֵין קִדּוּשִׁין תּוֹפְסִין בַּעֲרָיוֹת:

It appears to me that whenever there is a gentile woman or a maid-servant who is fit to give birth in a city, since an asufi that is discovered there is considered to possibly have the status of a gentile or a servant, if he marries a female convert as we stated, there is a doubt whether his wife is a married woman. One who enters into relations with her is not liable, because we do not execute individuals when there is a doubt involved. Similarly, it appears to me that when a shituki marries a woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah, there is a doubt whether she is a married woman, for consecration is not effective with regard to the ariot.

וְאֵי זוֹ הִיא הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה עֶרְוָה עָלָיו. כָּל אִשָּׁה שֶׁהָיָה אָבִיהָ אוֹ אָחִיהָ קַיָּם כְּשֶׁנִּתְעַבְּרָה בּוֹ אִמּוֹ. וְכָל אִשָּׁה שֶׁנִּתְגָּרְשָׁה אוֹ נִתְאַלְמְנָה שֶׁמָּא אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו הִיא אוֹ אֵשֶׁת אֲחִי אָבִיו:

What is meant by "a woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah"? Any woman whose father or brother was alive when his mother became pregnant or any woman who was divorced or widowed. For it is possible that she is his father's wife or the wife of his father's brother.

וּמִנַּיִן אֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵין הַשְּׁתוּקִי וְהָאֲסוּפִי אָסוּר בְּכָל אִשָּׁה שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה עֶרְוָה עָלָיו. שֶׁהֲרֵי הַכָּשֵׁר שֶׁנִּבְדְּקָה אִמּוֹ אֵינוֹ אָסוּר בְּכָל אִשָּׁה שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה עֶרְוָה עָלָיו. וַהֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה (ויקרא יט כט) "אַל תְּחַלֵּל אֶת בִּתְּךָ לְהַזְנוֹתָהּ". וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁאִם יַעֲשֶׂה זֶה נִמְצָא אָב נוֹשֵׂא בִּתּוֹ וְאָח נוֹשֵׂא אֲחוֹתוֹ. וְאִלּוּ הָיָה הַדִּין שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אָבִיו בְּוַדַּאי אָסוּר בְּכָל אִשָּׁה שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה עֶרְוָה עָלָיו. לֹא הָיִינוּ בָּאִים לַמִּדָּה הַזֹּאת לְעוֹלָם וְלֹא תִּהְיֶה הָאָרֶץ מְלֵאָה זִמָּה. הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאֵין אוֹסְרִין עֲרָיוֹת וּמַחֲזִיקִין אוֹתָן בִּשְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר בְּסָפֵק עַד שֶׁיִּוָּדַע בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁזּוֹ עֶרְוָה עָלָיו. שֶׁאִם אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן כָּל הַיְתוֹמִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא הִכִּירוּ אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם הָיוּ אֲסוּרִין לְהִנָּשֵׂא בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁמָּא יִפְגְּעוּ בְּעֶרְוָה:

What is the source on which I rely to say that a shituki or an asufi are not forbidden to marry any woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah? For an acceptable child whose mother was questioned is not forbidden to marry any woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah. And it is written in the Torah [Leviticus 19:29]: "Do not desecrate your daughter to have her act promiscuously." [Commenting on this verse,] our Sages state: If this would happen, a father will marry his daughter and a brother will marry his sister. If the law was that anyone who does not definitely know the identity of his father would be forbidden to marry any woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah, this situation could not arise and the earth would never become filled with incestuous relations. From this, we learn that we do not forbid ariot and consider them as relatives because of the doubt unless we definitely know that she is forbidden to him as an ervah. For were we to say this, all of the orphans in the world who did not know their fathers would be forbidden to marry in all situations lest they encounter a forbidden relationship.

הַוָּלָד שֶׁהָיָה מֻשְׁלָךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ וּבָא אֶחָד וְאָמַר בְּנִי הוּא וַאֲנִי הִשְׁלַכְתִּיו נֶאֱמָן. וְכֵן אִמּוֹ נֶאֱמֶנֶת. נֶאֱסַף מִן הַשּׁוּק וּבָאוּ אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ אַחַר כֵּן וְאָמְרוּ בְּנֵנוּ הוּא אֵין נֶאֱמָנִין הוֹאִיל וְיָצָא עָלָיו שֵׁם אֲסוּפִי. וּבִשְׁנֵי רְעָבוֹן נֶאֱמָנִין שֶׁמִּפְּנֵי רָעָב הִשְׁלִיכוּהוּ וְהֵן רוֹצִין שֶׁיָּזוּנוּ אוֹתוֹ אֲחֵרִים וּלְפִיכָךְ שָׁתְקוּ עַד שֶׁנֶּאֱסַף:

When a child was abandoned on the road and afterwards, one came and said: "He is my son and I abandoned him," his word is accepted. Similarly, the mother's word is accepted. If the child was taken in from the marketplace and afterwards, his father and mother came and said: "This is our son," their word is not accepted. [The rationale is that] he has already been categorized as an asufi. In the years of famine, their word is accepted. It is because of the famine that they abandoned him, for they desire that others sustain them. Therefore they remained silent until the child was gathered in.

נִמְצָא הַוָּלָד מָהוּל אוֹ שֶׁהֻחְתַּל אוֹ שֶׁהֻמְלַח אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הַכֹּחַל בְּעֵינָיו אוֹ הַקְּמֵעִין בְּצַוָּארוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנִּמְצָא תַּחַת אִילָן מְסֻבָּךְ שֶׁאֵין חַיָּה נִכְנֶסֶת לוֹ וְהָיָה סָמוּךְ לָעִיר אוֹ שֶׁנִּמְצָא בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת הַסָּמוּךְ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אוֹ בְּצִדֵּי רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אֵין כָּאן מִשּׁוּם אֲסוּפִי. מֵאַחֵר שֶׁהֵן מְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יָמוּת בְּחֶזְקַת כָּשֵׁר הוּא. אֲבָל אִם נִמְצָא מֻשְׁלָךְ בְּאֶמְצַע הַדֶּרֶךְ אוֹ רָחוֹק מִן הָעִיר אֲפִלּוּ תַּחַת אִילָן אוֹ בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹ שֶׁנִּמְצָא תָּלוּי בָּאִילָן מָקוֹם שֶׁחַיָּה מַגַּעַת לוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה אֲסוּפִי:

If the child was found circumcised, bundled, salted, blue eye-paint was applied to his eyes, an amulet was placed around his neck, it was placed under a interwoven tree that a wild beast could not enter and was close to the city, or it was found in a synagogue near the public domain or at the side of the public domain, the laws pertaining to an asufi do not apply. Since [the parents] are protecting the child so that it does not die, we can assume that it is acceptable. If, however, it is abandoned in the midst of the road or far away from a city, even under a tree, or in a synagogue, or it is found hanging in a place accessible by a wild beast, it is considered as an asufi.

נֶאֱמֶנֶת חַיָּה לוֹמַר זֶה הַבֵּן כֹּהֵן הוּא אוֹ לֵוִי אוֹ נָתִין אוֹ מַמְזֵר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא הֻחְזַק וְאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין יִחוּסָן. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁהֻחְזְקָה בְּנֶאֱמָנוּת וְלֹא עִרְעֵר עָלֶיהָ אָדָם. אֲבָל אִם עִרְעֵר עָלֶיהָ אֲפִלּוּ אֶחָד וְאָמַר בְּשֶׁקֶר מְעִידָה אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת וַהֲרֵי הַבֵּן בְּחֶזְקַת כָּשֵׁר וְאֵין לוֹ יִחוּס:

A mid-wife's word is accepted if she states: "This child is a priest," "...a Levite," "...a netin," or "...a mamzer," because the child's lineage has not been established and is not known. When does the above apply? When her faithfulness has been established and an objection is not raised against her. If, however, an objection was raised against her and one person said: "She is testifying falsely," her word is not accepted. The child is considered as acceptable, but is not considered as [a priest or Levite].

דָּבָר בָּרוּר שֶׁהַשְּׁתוּקִי אָסוּר לִשָּׂא שְׁתוּקִית. וַאֲסוּפִי אָסוּר בַּאֲסוּפִית מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן סְפֵקוֹת. אֲבָל מַמְזֵרִים וַדָּאִים וּנְתִינִים מֻתָּרִים לָבוֹא זֶה בָּזֶה וְהַוָּלָד מַמְזֵר. וּשְׁתוּקִי וַאֲסוּפִי מֻתָּרִין בִּנְתִינִים וּבִשְׁאָר הַגֵּרִים וְהַוָּלָד סָפֵק:

It is a clear matter that a shituki is forbidden to marry a shituki and an asufi is forbidden to marry an asufi, because their status is doubtful. Nevertheless, even mamzerim of a definite status and netinim may intermarry. The offspring is a mamzer. A shituki or an asufi are permitted to marry netinim and other converts. The offspring is considered as [a mamzer] of doubtful status.