Marriage Chapter 3

כֵּיצַד הָאִשָּׁה מִתְקַדֶּשֶׁת. אִם בְּכֶסֶף הוּא מְקַדֵּשׁ אֵין פָּחוֹת מִפְּרוּטָה כֶּסֶף אוֹ שְׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה. אוֹמֵר לָהּ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי. אוֹ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְאֹרֶסֶת לִי. אוֹ הֲרֵי אַתְּ לִי לְאִשָּׁה בָּזֶה. וְנוֹתֵן לָהּ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים. וְהָאִישׁ הוּא שֶׁאוֹמֵר דְּבָרִים שֶׁמַּשְׁמָעָן שֶׁקּוֹנֶה אוֹתָהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וְהוּא שֶׁיִּתֵּן לָהּ הַכֶּסֶף:

How is a woman sanctified (for engagement)? If one choses to do so with money (or its equivalent), it can not have less than the value of a "Peruta". He says to her, "Behold, you are sanctified to me", "Behold, you are engaged to me", "Behold, with this, you are to be my wife", and he gives her the object in front of witnesses. The man must be the one to say words that have the meaning of an acquisition, and it must be he that is giving her the money.

נָתְנָה הִיא וְאָמְרָה לוֹ הֲרֵי אֲנִי מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לְךָ. הֲרֵינִי מְאֹרֶסֶת לְךָ. הֲרֵינִי לְךָ לְאִנְתּוּ אוֹ בְּכָל לְשׁוֹן הַקְנָאָה אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. וְכֵן אִם נָתְנָה הִיא לוֹ וְאָמַר הוּא אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. וְאִם נָתַן הוּא וְאָמְרָה הִיא הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת מִסָּפֵק:

If she gives the money and says, "I am sanctified to you", "I am engaged to you", "I am a wife to you" or any other acquisition term, she is not sanctified. So too if she gives the money and he speaks, she is not sanctified. If he gives and she speaks, this is a questionable sanctification.

וְאִם קִדֵּשׁ בִּשְׁטָר כּוֹתֵב עַל הַנְּיָר אוֹ עַל הַחֶרֶס אוֹ עַל הֶעָלֶה אוֹ עַל כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי אוֹ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְאֹרֶסֶת לִי וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ וְנוֹתְנוֹ לָהּ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים:

If he sanctified with a document, he writes it on paper or clay or of earth, or on anything he desires. "Behold, you are sanctified to me", "Behold, you are engaged to me" and so on (other terms), and gives her the document in front of witnesses.

וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּכְתֹּב אוֹתוֹ לְשֵׁם הָאִשָּׁה הַמִּתְקַדֶּשֶׁת כְּגֵט. וְאֵינוֹ כּוֹתְבוֹ אֶלָּא מִדַּעְתָּהּ. כְּתָבוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ אוֹ לִשְׁמָהּ שֶׁלֹּא מִדַּעְתָּהּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ לָהּ לְדַעְתָּהּ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת:

The document must be written for the sake of the woman who is being married, as must a bill of divorce, and it must be written with her consent. If it was not written for her sake, or if it was written for her sake, but was written without her consent, the marriage bond is not established. [This applies] even when he gives her [the document] with her consent in the presence of witnesses.

וְאִם קִדֵּשׁ בְּבִיאָה אוֹמֵר לָהּ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי אוֹ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְאֹרֶסֶת לִי אוֹ הֲרֵי אַתְּ לִי לְאִשָּׁה בִּבְעִילָה זוֹ וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה. וּמִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ בִּפְנֵי שְׁנֵי עֵדִים וּבוֹעֲלָהּ. וְהַמְקַדֵּשׁ בְּבִיאָה (מִסְּתָמָא) דַּעְתּוֹ עַל גְּמַר בִּיאָה. וּכְשֶׁיִּגְמֹר בִּיאָתוֹ תִּהְיֶה מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. (וּבֵין שֶׁבָּא עָלֶיהָ כְּדַרְכָּהּ וּבֵין שֶׁבָּא עָלֶיהָ שֶׁלֹּא כְּדַרְכָּהּ הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת):

If the man consecrates through sexual relations, he should tell the woman, "You are consecrated unto me...," "You are betrothed to me...," or "You become my wife through these relations," or choose a similar statement. He must enter into privacy with her in the presence of witnesses and engage in relations. When a person consecrates through sexual relations, one may assume that his intent is on the conclusion of the relations; when the relations are concluded, the marriage bond is established. Regardless of whether the couple engage in vaginal or anal intercourse, the marriage bond is established.

הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁיֹּאמַר הָאִישׁ כְּשֶׁיְּקַדֵּשׁ צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מַשְׁמָעָם שֶׁהוּא קוֹנֶה הָאִשָּׁה וְלֹא שֶׁיְּהֵא מַשְׁמָע שֶׁהִקְנָה עַצְמוֹ לָהּ. כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁאָמַר לָהּ אוֹ שֶׁכָּתַב בַּשְּׁטָר שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ לָהּ. הֲרֵינִי בַּעְלֵךְ. הֲרֵינִי אֲרוּסֵךְ. הֲרֵינִי אִישֵׁךְ וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה. אֵין כָּאן קִדּוּשִׁין כְּלָל. אָמַר לָהּ אוֹ כָּתַב לָהּ. הֲרֵי אַתְּ אִשְׁתִּי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ אֲרוּסָתִי. אוֹ הֲרֵי אַתְּ קְנוּיָה לִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ שֶׁלִּי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ לְקוּחָתִי. הֲרֵי אֶת חֲרוּפָתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ בִּרְשׁוּתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ זְקוּקָה לִי וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת:

The statements that the man makes when he consecrates [his wife] must imply that he acquires her as a wife, and not that he gives himself to her. What is implied? Should he tell her, or write in the document he gives her: "I am your husband," "I am your betrothed," "I am your man," or the like, the marriage bond is not established at all. If he tells her or writes to her: "Behold, you are my wife," "Behold, you are my betrothed," "Behold, you are acquired by me," "Behold, you are mine," "Behold, you are my possession," "Behold, you are my designated one," "Behold, you are within my property," "Behold, you are bound to me," or the like, the marriage bond is established.

אָמַר לָהּ אוֹ כָּתַב לָהּ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְיֻחֶדֶת לִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְיֹעֶדֶת לִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ עֶזְרָתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ נֶגְדָּתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ צַלְעָתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ סְגוּרָתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ תַּחְתַּי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ עֲצוּרָתִי. הֲרֵי אַתְּ תְּפוּסָתִי. הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת בְּסָפֵק. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מְדַבֵּר עִמָּהּ תְּחִלָּה עַל עִסְקֵי קִדּוּשִׁין. אֲבָל אִם אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר עִמָּהּ תְּחִלָּה עַל עִסִקֵי קִדּוּשִׁין אֵין חוֹשִׁשִׁין לִמִלּוֹת אֵלּוּ:

Should he tell her, or write to her: "You are set aside for me," "You are earmarked for me," "You are my helper," "You are my counterpart," "You are my rib," "You are closed off for me," "You are below me," "You are my captive," "You have been taken by me," [the matter is unresolved, and] the status of the kiddushin is in doubt. The above applies only when the man was [previously] speaking to the woman about establishing a marriage bond. If he was not speaking to the woman about such a matter, these words are of no consequence.

וְיֵשׁ לָאִישׁ לְקַדֵּשׁ הָאִשָּׁה בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן שֶׁהִיא מַכֶּרֶת בּוֹ. וְיִהְיֶה מַשְׁמַע הַדְּבָרִים בְּאוֹתָהּ הַלָּשׁוֹן שֶׁקְּנָאָהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. הָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִם הָאִשָּׁה עַל עִסְקֵי הַקִּדּוּשִׁין וְרָצְתָה וְעָמַד וְקִדֵּשׁ וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ וְלֹא אָמַר לָהּ כְּלוּם אֶלָּא נָתַן בְּיָדָהּ אוֹ בָּעַל הוֹאִיל וְהֵן עֲסוּקִין בָּעִנְיָן דַּיּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְפָרֵשׁ. וְכֵן עֵדֵי הַקִּדּוּשִׁין וְהַגֵּרוּשִׁין אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר לָהֵם אַתֵּם עֵדַי. אֵלָּא כֵּיוָן שֵׁגֵּרֵשׁ אוֹ קִדֵּשׁ בִּפִנֵיהֵם הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת אוֹ מִגֹרֵשֵׁת:

A man may consecrate a woman by making statements in any language that she understands, provided that, in that language, his statements mean that he is acquiring her, as explained. If a man was speaking to a woman about consecrating her and she consented, and he immediately gave her [something] in her hand to consecrate her or engaged in sexual relations [with that intent], without [making a statement] clarifying [his purpose], it is sufficient. Since they were speaking about this matter, it is not necessary for him to be explicit. Similarly, a man need not tell witnesses who observe kiddushin or divorce, "You are my witnesses." As long as he has divorced or consecrated a woman in their presence, she is consecrated or divorced.

הָאוֹמֵר לְאִשָּׁה הִתְקַדְּשִׁי לְחֶצְיִי הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. הָא לְמַה זֶּה דּוֹמֶה לְאוֹמֵר לָהּ תְּהִי אִשְׁתִּי אַתְּ וְאַחֶרֶת שֶׁנִּמְצָא שֶׁאֵין לָהּ אֶלָּא חֲצִי אִישׁ. אֲבָל אִם אָמַר חֶצְיֵךְ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת שֶׁאֵין אִשָּׁה אַחַת רְאוּיָה לִשְׁנַיִם. וְכֵן אִם אוֹמֵר הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי וְלָזֶה אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת:

When a man tells a woman, "Become consecrated to my half," she is consecrated. To what can this be compared? To his saying, "May you become my wife, and also another woman." And so, she has only half a man. If, however, he said: "Half of you is consecrated to me," she is not consecrated. For a woman cannot be consecrated to two men. Similarly, if he says, "Behold, you are consecrated to me and to him," the woman is not consecrated.

אָמַר לָהּ הֲרֵי חֶצְיֵךְ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי בִּפְרוּטָה וְחֶצְיֵךְ בִּפְרוּטָה. אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לָהּ חֶצְיֵךְ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי בַּחֲצִי פְּרוּטָה וְחֶצְיֵךְ הָאַחֶרֶת מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת בַּחֲצִי פְּרוּטָה הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. אָמַר לָהּ חֶצְיֵךְ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי בִּפְרוּטָה הַיּוֹם וְחֶצְיֵךְ בִּפְרוּטָה לְמָחָר. שְׁתֵּי חֲצָיַיִךְ בִּפְרוּטָה. שְׁתֵּי בְּנוֹתֶיךָ לִשְׁנֵי בָּנַי בִּפְרוּטָה. בִּתְּךָ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי וּפָרָתְךָ מְכוּרָה לִי בִּפְרוּטָה. אוֹ בִּתְּךָ וְקַרְקָעָתְךָ לִי בִּפְרוּטָה. בְּכָל אֵלּוּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת בְּסָפֵק:

If he told her: "Behold, half of you is consecrated to me with a p'rutah, and half of you [is consecrated to me with another] p'rutah," or if he told her: "Behold, half of you is consecrated to me with half a p'rutah, and your other half [is consecrated to me with another] half a p'rutah," she is consecrated. If he told her: "Behold, half of you is consecrated to me with a p'rutah today, and half of you [is consecrated to me with another] p'rutah tomorrow," or if he told her: "Your two halves are consecrated to me with a p'rutah," "Your two daughters are consecrated to my two sons with this p'rutah," "Your daughter is consecrated to me, and your cow is sold to me with this p'rutah," or "Your daughter... and your land... with a p'rutah" - in all of these circumstances, [the matter is unresolved, and] the status of the kiddushin is in doubt.

הָאָב מְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת בִּתּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לְדַעְתָּהּ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁהִיא נַעֲרָה רְשׁוּתָהּ בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כב טז) "אֶת בִּתִּי נָתַתִּי לָאִישׁ הַזֶּה לְאִשָּׁה". וְקִדּוּשֶׁיהָ לְאָבִיהָ. וְכֵן הוּא זַכַּאי בִּמְצִיאָתָהּ וּבְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיהָ וּבִכְתֻבָּתָהּ אִם נִתְגָּרְשָׁה אוֹ נִתְאַלְמְנָה מִן הָאֵרוּסִין הוּא זַכַּאי בַּכּל עַד שֶׁתִּבָּגֵר. לְפִיכָךְ מְקַבֵּל הָאָב קִדּוּשֵׁי בִּתּוֹ מִיּוֹם שֶׁתִּוָּלֵד עַד שֶׁתִּבָּגֵר. וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה חֵרֶשֶׁת אוֹ שׁוֹטָה וְקִדְּשָׁהּ הָאָב הֲרֵי הִיא אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ גְּמוּרָה. וְאִם הָיְתָה בַּת שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶחָד מִתְקַדֶּשֶׁת בְּבִיאָה מִדַּעַת אָבִיהָ. פָּחוֹת מִכֵּן אִם קִדְּשָׁהּ אָבִיהָ בְּבִיאָה אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת:

A father may consecrate his daughter without her knowledge while she is a minor. Even when she is a na'arah, he still possesses this right, as [implied by Deuteronomy 22:16]: "I gave my daughter to this man." [The money received as] kiddushin belongs to her father. Similarly, he has the right to [any ownerless property] she finds, [the wages she receives for] her labor, and [the money she receives as stipulated in] her ketubah if she is divorced or widowed before the marriage bond is consummated. He is entitled to all these until she becomes a bogeret. Therefore, a father is entitled to receive kiddushin on behalf of his daughter from the day she was born until she becomes a bogeret. Even if she is a deaf mute or intellectually incompetent, if her father consecrates her [to another man], she is his wife. If a girl is older than three years and one day, she can be consecrated through sexual relations with her father's consent. Should she be below this age, if her father has her consecrated through sexual relations, the marriage bond is not established.

בָּגְרָה הַבַּת אֵין לְאָבִיהָ בָּהּ רְשׁוּת וַהֲרֵי הִיא כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הַנָּשִׁים שֶׁאֵינָם מִתְקַדְּשׁוֹת אֶלָּא לְדַעְתָּן. וְכֵן אִם הִשִּׂיאָהּ אָבִיהָ וְנִתְאַלְמְנָה אוֹ נִתְגָּרְשָׁה בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיהָ הֲרֵי הִיא בִּרְשׁוּת עַצְמָהּ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן הִיא קְטַנָּה. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת אֵין לְאָבִיהָ בָּהּ רְשׁוּת לְעוֹלָם:

After a daughter becomes a bogeret, her father has no rights over her; she is like all other women, and she can be consecrated only with her own consent. Similarly, if her father had her married, the marriage bond was consummated [nisu'in], and then she was widowed or divorced, [even] in her father's lifetime, she is considered to be independent, despite the fact that she is still a minor. Once a woman enters nisu'in, her father no longer has any authority over her.

נִתְקַדְּשָׁה קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּבְגֹּר שֶׁלֹּא לְדַעַת אָבִיהָ אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם נִתְרַצָּה הָאָב אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְקַדְּשָׁה. וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם נִתְאַלְמְנָה אוֹ נִתְגָּרְשָׁה מִן אוֹתָן הַקִּדּוּשִׁין אֵינָהּ אֲסוּרָה לְכֹהֵן. וּבֵין הִיא וּבֵין אָבִיהָ יְכוֹלִין לְעַכֵּב. בֵּין אִם נִתְקַדְּשָׁה בְּפָנָיו בֵּין שֶׁנִּתְקַדְּשָׁה שֶׁלֹּא בְּפָנָיו אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת:

When a girl receives kiddushin without her father's knowledge before she reaches the age of majority, the marriage bond is not established. [This applies] even when the father consents subsequently. Moreover, if she is widowed or divorced after these kiddushin, she is not forbidden [to marry] a priest. Both she and her father can prevent [the marriage bonds from taking effect]. Regardless of whether she was consecrated in the presence of her father or not, she is not consecrated.

הָיְתָה הַבַּת סָפֵק בּוֹגֶרֶת. בֵּין שֶׁקִּדְּשָׁהּ אָבִיהָ שֶׁלֹּא לְדַעְתָּהּ בֵּין שֶׁקִּדְּשָׁה הִיא עַצְמָהּ שֶׁלֹּא לְדַעַת אָבִיהָ. הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת בְּסָפֵק לְפִיכָךְ צְרִיכָה גֵּט מִסָּפֵק. יֵשׁ לָאִישׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלִיחַ לְקַדֵּשׁ לוֹ אִשָּׁה בֵּין אִשָּׁה פְּלוֹנִית בֵּין אִשָּׁה מִשְּׁאָר הַנָּשִׁים. וְכֵן הָאִשָּׁה הַגְּדוֹלָה עוֹשָׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַבֵּל קִדּוּשֶׁיהָ בֵּין מֵאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי בֵּין מֵאִישׁ מִשְּׁאָר אֲנָשִׁים. וְכֵן הָאָב עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַבֵּל קִדּוּשֵׁי בִּתּוֹ כְּשֶׁהִיא בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ. וְאוֹמֵר הָאָב לְבִתּוֹ הַקְּטַנָּה צְאִי וְקַבְּלִי קִדּוּשַׁיִךְ:

[The following rules apply when] there is doubt whether or not the girl is a bogeret: Whether her father consecrated her without her consent, or she consecrated herself without her father's consent, the status of the kiddushin is in doubt. Therefore, [to marry another man,] she must receive a get given because of the doubt. A man may appoint an agent to consecrate a wife for him. [This applies] if he specifies a particular woman, or gives the agent the authority to consecrate any woman. Similarly, a woman past the age of majority may appoint an agent to receive kiddushin for her. [This applies] if she specifies [that they be given by] a particular man, or gives the agent the authority to receive them from any man. Similarly, a father may appoint an agent to accept the kiddushin of his daughter as long as she is under his authority. A man may tell his daughter who is below the age of majority, "Go out and receive your kiddushin."

כָּל הָעוֹשֶׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַבֵּל הַקִּדּוּשִׁין צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים. אֲבָל הָאִישׁ שֶׁעָשָׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַדֵּשׁ לוֹ אִשָּׁה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ בְּעֵדִים שֶׁאֵין מָקוֹם לְעֵדִים בִּשְׁלִיחוּת הָאִישׁ אֶלָּא לְהוֹדִיעַ אֲמִתַּת הַדָּבָר. לְפִיכָךְ אִם הוֹדוּ הַשָּׁלִיחַ וְהַמְשַׁלֵּחַ אֵינָן צְרִיכִין עֵדִים כְּמוֹ שְׁלִיחַ הַגֵּט וּכְמוֹ שָׁלִיחַ שֶׁהִרְשָׁהוּ לְהַפְרִישׁ לוֹ תְּרוּמָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁשְּׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם כְּמוֹתוֹ וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ עֵדִים:

When an agent is appointed to receive kiddushin, he must be appointed in the presence of two witnesses. When, by contrast, a man appoints an agent to consecrate a woman, there is no need for the appointment to be made in the presence of witnesses. For the only purpose witnesses would serve with regard to the agency of the man is to make known the truth of the matter. Therefore, if the agent and the principal acknowledge the appointment, there is no need for witnesses, [as in parallel cases, such as] an agent appointed to bring a get or an agent appointed to separate terumah. In all matters, a principal's agent is regarded as the principal himself, and there is no need to appoint witnesses.

הַשָּׁלִיחַ נַעֲשֶׂה עֵד לְפִיכָךְ אִם עָשָׂה שְׁנֵי שְׁלוּחִין לְקַדֵּשׁ לוֹ אִשָּׁה וְהָלְכוּ וְקִדְּשׁוּ אוֹתָהּ הֵן הֵן שְׁלוּחָיו וְהֵן הֵן עֵדֵי הַקִּדּוּשִׁין וְאֵינָן צְרִיכִין לְקַדְּשָׁהּ לוֹ בִּפְנֵי שְׁנַיִם אֲחֵרִים:

An agent may serve as a witness. Therefore, if a person appointed two men as agents to consecrate a woman, and they did so, they serve both as agents and as witnesses. Hence, there is no need for them to consecrate her in the presence of two other witnesses.

הַכּל כְּשֵׁרִין לִשְׁלִיחוּת חוּץ מֵחֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן בְּנֵי דַּעַת וְהָעַכּוּ"ם לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ בְּנֵי בְּרִית וְנֶאֱמַר (במדבר יח כח) "כֵּן תָּרִימוּ גַם אַתֶּם" לְרַבּוֹת הַשָּׁלִיחַ וּמַה אַתֶּם בְּנֵי בְּרִית אַף שְׁלוּחֲכֶם בְּנֵי בְּרִית לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הָעַכּוּ"ם. אֲבָל הָעֶבֶד אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא נַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְדָבָר שֶׁבְּמָמוֹן הֲרֵי הוּא פָּסוּל לִשְׁלִיחוּת הַקִּדּוּשִׁין וְהַגִּטִּין לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ בְּתוֹרַת גִּטִּין וְקִדּוּשִׁין:

All are fit to serve as agents [in this capacity] except a deaf mute, a mentally incompetent individual and a minor - for they are not responsible - and a gentile, because he is not a member of the covenant. [The latter exclusion is based on Numbers 18:28, which] states: "And so shall you set aside, and you...." [This is interpreted as] including an agent. [Our Sages commented:] Just as you are members of the covenant, your agents must be members of the covenant, thus excluding a gentile. A [Canaanite] servant, although he is acceptable as an agent with regard to financial matters, is not acceptable as an agent with regard to kiddushin and gittin, because the laws of marriage and divorce do not apply to him.

שְׁלִיחַ הָאִישׁ שֶׁמְּקַדֵּשׁ אוֹמֵר לָהּ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִפְלוֹנִי בְּכֶסֶף זֶה אוֹ בִּשְׁטָר זֶה. אִם שְׁלִיחַ הָאִשָּׁה הוּא שֶׁמְּקַבֵּל הַקִּדּוּשִׁין אוֹמֵר לוֹ הֲרֵי פְּלוֹנִית שֶׁשָּׁלְחָה אוֹתְךָ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לוֹ קִדַּשְׁתִּיהָ לְךָ אוֹ אֵרַסְתִּיהָ לְךָ אוֹ נְתַתִּיהָ לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה. וְכֵן הַמְקַדֵּשׁ עַל יְדֵי הָאָב אוֹמֵר לוֹ הֲרֵי בִּתְּךָ פְּלוֹנִית מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִי וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לוֹ קִדַּשְׁתִּיהָ לְךָ. אִם אָמַר הָאָב אוֹ הַשָּׁלִיחַ הֵן דַּיּוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ שָׁתַק. וְאִם הָיוּ עֲסוּקִין בְּאוֹתוֹ עִנְיָן וְנָתַן לָאָב אוֹ לַשָּׁלִיחַ וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ וְלֹא אָמַר דָּבָר דַּיּוֹ וְהִיא מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. וְאִם קִדֵּשׁ בִּשְׁטָר אֵינוֹ כּוֹתְבוֹ אֶלָּא מִדַּעַת הָאָב אוֹ מִדַּעַת הַשָּׁלִיחַ. וְכֵן בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים כֻּלָּן שֶׁל קִדּוּשִׁין דִּין הָאִישׁ עִם הָאִשָּׁה כְּדִין שָׁלִיחַ עִם שָׁלִיחַ אוֹ עִם הָאָב:

An agent appointed by a man to consecrate a woman should tell her: "Behold, you are consecrated to so and so by virtue of this money" or "...by virtue of this legal document." If an agent of the woman receives the kiddushin, the [man consecrating her] should tell [the agent]: "So and so who appointed you is consecrated to me," and the agent should reply, "I have consecrated her to you," "I have betrothed her to you," "I have given her to you as a wife," or the like. Similarly, when a man consecrates a girl by [giving kiddushin to] her father, he should tell him, "Behold, your daughter so and so is consecrated to me," and the father should reply: "I have consecrated her to you." If the father or the agent says "yes," or even if he remains silent, it is sufficient. If they were discussing the matter, and the man gave the kiddushin to the father or to the agent without making any statement, it is sufficient, and the kiddushin are effective. If the kiddushin are established by virtue of [the transfer of] a legal document, he must have the document written with the consent of the father or of the agent. In all matters pertaining to kiddushin, the same laws that apply to the man and the woman, apply when [the kiddushin are established by] the [man's] agent and [the woman's] agent or [her] father.

מִצְוָה שֶׁיְּקַדֵּשׁ אָדָם אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ בְּעַצְמוֹ יוֹתֵר מֵעַל יְדֵי שְׁלוּחוֹ. וְכֵן מִצְוָה לָאִשָּׁה שֶׁתְּקַדֵּשׁ עַצְמָהּ בְּיָדָהּ יוֹתֵר מֵעַל יְדֵי שְׁלוּחָהּ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ רְשׁוּת לָאָב לְקַדֵּשׁ בִּתּוֹ כְּשֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה וּכְשֶׁהִיא נַעֲרָה לְכָל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה אֵין רָאוּי לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן אֶלָּא מִצְוַת חֲכָמִים שֶׁלֹּא יְקַדֵּשׁ אָדָם בִּתּוֹ כְּשֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה עַד שֶׁתַּגְדִּיל וְתֹאמַר לִפְלוֹנִי אֲנִי רוֹצָה. וְכֵן הָאִישׁ אֵין רָאוּי לְקַדֵּשׁ קְטַנָּה. וְלֹא יְקַדֵּשׁ אִשָּׁה עַד שֶׁיִּרְאֶנָּה וְתִהְיֶה כְּשֵׁרָה בְּעֵינָיו שֶׁמָּא לֹא תִּמְצָא חֵן בְּעֵינָיו וְנִמְצָא מְגָרְשָׁהּ אוֹ שׁוֹכֵב עִמָּהּ וְהוּא שׂוֹנְאָהּ:

It is a mitzvah for a man to consecrate his wife by himself, rather than to charge an agent [with this matter]. Similarly, it is a mitzvah for a woman to [receive] kiddushin herself rather than to charge an agent with receiving them for her. Although a father has the option of consecrating his daughter to anyone he desires while she is a minor or while she is a maiden, it is not proper for him to act in this manner. Instead, our Sages enjoined that a person should not consecrate his daughter while she is a minor until she matures and says, "I would like [to marry] so and so." Similarly, it is not proper for a man to consecrate a girl below the age of majority. Nor should one consecrate a woman until one sees her and deems her fitting, lest she not find favor in his eyes, and he divorce her, or sleep with her while hating her.

הַמְקַדֵּשׁ בְּבִיאָה הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ קִדּוּשֵׁי תּוֹרָה. וְכֵן מִתְקַדֶּשֶׁת בִּשְׁטָר מִן הַתּוֹרָה. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁגּוֹמֵר וּמְגָרֵשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כד א) "וְכָתַב לָהּ סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת" כָּךְ גּוֹמֵר וּמַכְנִיס. אֲבָל הַכֶּסֶף מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים (וְכֵן דִּין הַכֶּסֶף דִּין תּוֹרָה וּפֵרוּשׁוֹ מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים) שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כב יג) "כִּי יִקַּח אִישׁ אִשָּׁה" וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים לִקּוּחִים אֵלּוּ יִהְיוּ בְּכֶסֶף שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כג יג) "נָתַתִּי כֶּסֶף הַשָּׂדֶה קַח מִמֶּנִּי":

Kiddushin established by virtue of sexual relations are effective according to Scriptural law. Similarly, kiddushin established by virtue [of the transfer] of a legal document are effective according to Scriptural law. Just as [the transfer of a legal document] concludes a divorce, as [Deuteronomy 24;1] states: "And he shall write her a scroll of divorce," so too, [the transfer of a legal document] concludes [the establishment of the marriage bond]. [The effectiveness of the transfer of] money stems from Scriptural law, but its interpretation is based on Rabbinic law. [Deuteronomy, ibid.,] states "When a man takes a wife," and our Sages explained: This [process of] acquisition involves [the transfer of] money, as implied by [Genesis 23:13]: "I have given the money for the field; take it from me."

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעִקַּר הַדָּבָר כָּךְ הוּא כְּבָר נָהֲגוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְקַדֵּשׁ בְּכֶסֶף אוֹ בִּשְׁוֵה כֶּסֶף. וְכֵן אִם רָצָה לְקַדֵּשׁ בִּשְׁטָר מְקַדֵּשׁ. אֲבָל אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין בְּבִיאָה לְכַתְּחִלָּה וְאִם קִדֵּשׁ בְּבִיאָה מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל פְּרוּצִים בְּדָבָר זֶה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקִּדּוּשָׁיו קִדּוּשִׁין גְּמוּרִין:

Although this is the essence of the principle, it has already become universal Jewish custom to consecrate [a marriage bond] through [the transfer of] money or objects that are worth money. If one desires to consecrate [a woman] by [giving her] a legal document, one may, but at the outset one should not consecrate [a woman] through sexual relations. If a man consecrates [a woman] through sexual relations, he is given stripes for rebelliousness, so that the Jewish people will not extend beyond the limits of modesty in this manner. Nevertheless, the kiddushin are binding.

וְכֵן הַמְקַדֵּשׁ בְּלֹא שִׁדּוּכִין אוֹ הַמְקַדֵּשׁ בַּשּׁוּק אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקִּדּוּשָׁיו קִדּוּשִׁין גְּמוּרִין מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא דָּבָר זֶה הֶרְגֵּל לִזְנוּת וְיִדְמֶה לִקְדֵשָׁה שֶׁהָיְתָה קֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה:

Similarly, a man who consecrates a woman without establishing an engagement previously, or a man who consecrates a woman in the marketplace, is given stripes for rebelliousness, although his kiddushin are binding. [This was instituted] lest such a practice accustom people to licentious conduct and invite a comparison to a harlot, as existed before the giving of the Torah.

כָּל הַמְקַדֵּשׁ אִשָּׁה בֵּין עַל יְדֵי עַצְמוֹ בֵּין עַל יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ צָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ קֹדֶם הַקִּדּוּשִׁין אוֹ הוּא אוֹ שְׁלוּחוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמְּבָרְכִין עַל כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְקַדֵּשׁ וְאִם קִדֵּשׁ וְלֹא בֵּרֵךְ לֹא יְבָרֵךְ אַחַר הַקִּדּוּשִׁין שֶׁזּוֹ בְּרָכָה לְבַטָּלָה מַה שֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂה כְּבָר נַעֲשָׂה:

Whenever a man consecrates a woman, whether by himself or via an agent, either he or his agent should recite a blessing before the consecration, as one recites a blessing before performing any of the mitzvot. [After reciting the blessing,] he should consecrate [the woman]. If he consecrates a woman without reciting a blessing, he should not recite the blessing afterwards. It would be a blessing in vain, for the activity has already been performed.

כֵּיצַד מְבָרֵךְ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְהִבְדִּילָנוּ מִן הָעֲרָיוֹת וְאָסַר לָנוּ אֶת הָאֲרוּסוֹת וְהִתִּיר לָנוּ אֶת הַנְּשׂוּאוֹת עַל יְדֵי חֻפָּה וְקִדּוּשִׁין בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' מְקַדֵּשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל. זוֹ הִיא בִּרְכַּת אֵרוּסִין. וְנָהֲגוּ הָעָם לְהַסְדִּיר בְּרָכָה זוֹ עַל כּוֹס שֶׁל יַיִן אוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁכָר. וְאִם יֵשׁ שָׁם יַיִן מְבָרֵךְ עַל הַיַּיִן תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְבָרֵךְ בִּרְכַּת אֵרוּסִין וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְקַדְּשָׁהּ. וְאִם אֵין לוֹ יַיִן אוֹ שֵׁכָר מְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָהּ בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ:

Which blessing is recited? Blessed are You, G-d, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His mitzvot and separated us from illicit relationships, who has forbidden the arusot to us, and permitted to us those who are married by [the rites of] chuppah and kiddushin. Blessed are You, G-d, who sanctifies Israel. This is the blessing of erusin. The people have established the custom of reciting this blessing over wine or beer. If there is wine available, one should recite the blessing over the wine, recite the blessing of consecration afterwards, and then consecrate the woman. If there is no wine or beer available, one should recite [the blessing of consecration] by itself.