הלכות חובל ומזיק
22 halachot · Hebrew + English
הַנּוֹגֵף אֶת הָאִשָּׁה וְיָצְאוּ יְלָדֶיהָ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִתְכַּוֵּן חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם דְּמֵי וְלָדוֹת לַבַּעַל וְנֵזֶק וְצַעַר לָאִשָּׁה:
One who strikes a woman and causes her to miscarry, even though this wasn't his intent, he must pay the value of the fetus to the [woman's] husband, and damage and pain to the woman.
וְכֵיצַד מְשַׁעֲרִין דְּמֵי וְלָדוֹת. שָׁמִין הָאִשָּׁה כַּמָּה הָיְתָה יָפָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָלְדָה וְכַמָּה הִיא יָפָה מִשֶּׁיָּלְדָה וְנוֹתְנִין לַבַּעַל. אִם מֵת הַבַּעַל נוֹתְנִין לְיוֹרְשָׁיו. וְאִם נִגְּפָה אַחַר מִיתַת הַבַּעַל נוֹתְנִין אַף דְּמֵי וְלָדוֹת לָאִשָּׁה:
How is the payment for the fetus assessed? We evaluate how much the woman would be worth before she gave birth, and how much she would be worth had she given birth. The difference between these two figures should be given to her husband. If her husband died after she miscarried, the assessment should be given to his heirs. If a woman was struck after her husband died and she miscarried, the assessment for the fetus should also be given to the woman.
הָיְתָה נְשׂוּאָה לְגֵר וְחָבַל בָּהּ בְּחַיֵּי הַגֵּר נוֹתֵן דְּמֵי וְלָדוֹת לַבַּעַל. מֵת הַגֵּר פָּטוּר. וְאִם חָבַל בָּהּ אַחַר מִיתַת הַגֵּר זָכְתָה הִיא בִּדְמֵי וְלָדוֹת:
If the woman who miscarries was married to a convert, and a person injures her during the convert's lifetime, he must pay the assessment for the fetus to the husband. If the convert dies without leaving any heirs, he is not liable. If the woman is injured after the convert dies, she acquires the right to the assessment for the fetus.
הָיְתָה שִׁפְחָה אוֹ עַכּוּ"ם בִּשְׁעַת הֵרָיוֹן וּבִשְׁעַת נְגִיפָה נִשְׁתַּחְרְרָה אוֹ נִתְגַּיְּרָה הֲרֵי דְּמֵי הַוְּלָדוֹת שֶׁלָּהּ:
If the woman was a maidservant or a gentile at the time of conception, and was freed or converted before the accident took place, the assessment for the fetus belongs to her.
הַנּוֹגֵף אֶת הָאִשָּׁה וְיָצְאוּ יְלָדֶיהָ וּמֵתָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה שׁוֹגֵג הֲרֵי זֶה פָּטוּר מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין וְאֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם כְּלוּם. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא כב) "וְלֹא יִהְיֶה אָסוֹן עָנוֹשׁ יֵעָנֵשׁ". לֹא חִלֵּק הַכָּתוּב בֵּין שׁוֹגֵג לְמֵזִיד בְּדָבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין לְפָטְרוֹ מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין:
When a person strikes a woman, and she miscarries and dies, he is not liable for payment, even if he struck her unintentionally.This law is derived as follows. Exodus 21:22 states: "If there will not be a fatal injury, he must certainly be punished financially." Thus, we see that Scripture did not distinguish between unintentional and intentional conduct with regard to an act punishable by execution by the court, and freed the perpetrator from financial liability in all instances.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁנִּתְכַּוֵּן לָאִשָּׁה. אֲבָל אִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לַחֲבֵרוֹ וְנָגַף אֶת הָאִשָּׁה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמֵּתָה הוֹאִיל וֶהֱמִיתָהּ בְּלֹא כַּוָּנָה הֲרֵי זֶה כְּדָבָר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין וּמְשַׁלֵּם דְּמֵי וְלָדוֹת:
When does the above apply? When the person intended to strike the woman. When, however, he intended to strike his colleague, but instead struck the woman - although she died - since he killed her without intention, this is considered a matter that does not involve capital punishment, and he is liable for the assessment for the fetus.
הַמַּכֶּה אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָּהֶן חַבּוּרָה חַיָּב בַּחֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים. אֲבָל אִם עָשָׂה בָּהֶם חַבּוּרָה אוֹ שֶׁחָבַל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה שׁוֹגֵג פָּטוּר מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא עֲוֹן מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין. וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ שֶׁלֹּא חִלֵּק הַכָּתוּב בְּדָבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין בֵּין שׁוֹגֵג לְמֵזִיד לְפָטְרוֹ מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין:
A person who strikes his father or his mother, but does not draw blood, is liable to pay the five assessments. If, however, he drew blood while striking his parents or injured a colleague on the Sabbath - even if he did so unintentionally - he is not liable for a financial penalty, because these sins are punishable by execution by the court. And as we explained, Scripture did not distinguish between unintentional and intentional conduct with regard to an act punishable by execution by the court, and freed the perpetrator from financial liability in all instances.
וַהֲלֹא הַחוֹבֵל מְקַלְקֵל הוּא וְכָל הַמְקַלְקְלִין בְּשַׁבָּת פְּטוּרִין מִן הַמִּיתָה וְלָמָּה נַחְשֹׁב זֶה הַחוֹבֵל עָוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין. הוֹאִיל וְעָשָׂה נַחַת רוּחַ לְיִצְרוֹ הָרַע בְּעֵת שֶׁחָבַל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ הֲרֵי הוּא כִּמְתַקֵּן וְנִמְצָא עֲוֹן מִיתָה לְפִיכָךְ פָּטוּר מִתַּשְׁלוּמִין:
With regard to causing injury on the Sabbath, one might ask: "A person who causes injury is considered to be performing destructive activity, and one who performs destructive activity on the Sabbath is not liable for execution. Why then is the person who causes injury considered to be transgressing a sin punishable by execution by the court?" The resolution is: since the person is satisfying his evil inclination by injuring his colleague, he is considered to be performing constructive activity. Thus, he is performing an act that is punishable by execution. Therefore, he is not liable for a financial penalty.
הַחוֹבֵל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אֲפִלּוּ בְּמֵזִיד חַיָּב בְּתַשְׁלוּמִין. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָבַר עֲבֵרָה שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב עָלֶיהָ מַלְקוֹת. וַהֲלֹא כָּל הַמְחֻיָּב מַלְקוֹת וְתַשְׁלוּמִין לוֹקֶה וְאֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם שֶׁאֵין אָדָם לוֹקֶה וּמְשַׁלֵּם. כָּךְ הֵם הַדְּבָרִים בַּכּל חוּץ מֵחוֹבֵל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁהוּא מְשַׁלֵּם שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּפֵרוּשׁ רִבְּתָה תּוֹרָה חוֹבֵל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ לְתַשְׁלוּמִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא יט) "רַק שִׁבְתּוֹ יִתֵּן":
When a person injures a colleague on Yom Kippur, he is liable to pay financial compensation, even though he did so intentionally. This is the halachah although he transgressed a sin that is punishable by lashes. Generally, whenever a deed that a person commits obligates the person to receive lashes and pay a financial penalty, he should be lashed and is not required to pay a financial penalty, for a person is never obligated for both lashes and a financial penalty. Although this is the general rule, an exception is made with regard to a person who injures a colleague. For the Torah specifically stated that a person who injures a colleague should pay compensation, as Exodus 21:19 states: "He shall pay unemployment compensation."
הַחוֹבֵל בְּעֶבֶד כְּנַעֲנִי שֶׁלּוֹ פָּטוּר. חָבַל בְּעֶבֶד עִבְרִי שֶׁלּוֹ חַיָּב בְּכֻלָּן חוּץ מִן הַשֶּׁבֶת. הַחוֹבֵל בְּעֶבֶד כְּנַעֲנִי שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ רַבּוֹ שֶׁל עֶבֶד נוֹטֵל חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים. וַאֲפִלּוּ צִעֲרוֹ בְּסַם וְנִתִרַפֵּא בִּמְהֵרָה הֲרֵי כָּל רְפוּאָתוֹ לְרַבּוֹ:
A person who injures a Canaanite servant whom he owns is not liable for any penalty. If he injures a Hebrew servant whom he owns, he is liable for all the assessments, with the exception of unemployment compensation. When a person injures a Canaanite servant belonging to a colleague, the owner of the injured servant receives the five assessments. Even if he gave him powerful medication that caused the servant pain but healed him quickly, the owner is entitled to payment for all medical expenses.
כָּל עֶבֶד שֶׁיָּצָא לְחֵרוּת וַעֲדַיִן לֹא הִגִּיעַ גֵּט שִׁחְרוּר לְיָדוֹ אֵין לוֹ קְנָס. וַאֲחֵרִים שֶׁחָבְלוּ בּוֹ אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶן לְעַצְמוֹ שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא גָּמַר שִׁחְרוּרוֹ. וְלֹא הָאָדוֹן יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶן שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נִשְׁאַר [לוֹ] בּוֹ קִנְיָן. לְפִיכָךְ הַמַּפִּיל שֵׁן עַבְדּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ סִמֵּא עֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא בְּשִׁנּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ נוֹתֵן לוֹ דְּמֵי עֵינוֹ. וְאִם תָּפַשׂ אֵין מוֹצִיאִין מִיָּדוֹ:
Whenever a servant has been freed, but his bill of release has not been given to him yet, the penalty granted to the owner if the servant is killed by an ox is not paid because of him. If others injure him, he cannot collect the money for himself, because he is not a totally free man yet. Nor may his owner collect that money, because he no longer owns him. For this reason, if an owner knocks out one of his servant's teeth, and then blinds his eye, he must free him because of his tooth, but he is not required to pay him because of the eye. If, however, the servant seizes the assessment that would be due him, it is not expropriated from him.
מִי שֶׁחֶצְיוֹ עֶבֶד וְחֶצְיוֹ בֶּן חוֹרִין שֶׁבִּיְּשׁוֹ אָדָם אוֹ צִעֲרוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנְּגָחוֹ שׁוֹר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּאֵלּוּ. אִם אֵרְעוֹ זֶה בַּיּוֹם שֶׁל רַבּוֹ לְרַבּוֹ. בַּיּוֹם שֶׁל עַצְמוֹ לְעַצְמוֹ:
When a servant has been half-freed, he must work for his master one day, and may work for himself the next day. The following rules apply if such a servant was embarrassed by a person, or one caused him pain, or he was gored by an ox, or the like. If this took place on the day on which he must work for his master, the master is entitled to the payment. If this took place on the day when he works for himself, he is entitled to the payment.
הַחוֹבֵל בְּעֶבֶד עִבְרִי שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ חַיָּב בַּחֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים וְיִלָּקַח בָּהֶן קַרְקַע וְרַבּוֹ אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ. וְלִכְשֶׁיֵּצֵא הָעֶבֶד לְחֵרוּת יֵצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה מִתַּחַת רַבּוֹ. הִזִּיקוֹ הֶזֵּק שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְעַכֵּב מְלָאכָה כְּלָל כְּגוֹן שֶׁקָּטַע רֹאשׁ אָזְנוֹ אוֹ רֹאשׁ חָטְמוֹ הַכּל לָעֶבֶד וְאֵין לְרַבּוֹ בָּהֶן פֵּרוֹת:
When a person injures a Hebrew servant belonging to another person, he is liable for all five assessments. Land should be purchased with the money, and the servant's master is entitled to the profits. When the servant is freed, the land is released from his owner's control. If the servant was injured in a way that does not impair his work at all - e.g., the tip of his ear or the tip of his nose was cut off - the entire payment should be given to the servant, and his owner is not entitled to the benefit.
הַחוֹבֵל בְּבַת קְטַנָּה שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים אִם נֵזֶק הַפּוֹחֵת אוֹתָהּ מִכַּסְפָּהּ הוּא הֲרֵי הוּא שֶׁל אָב. וְכֵן שִׁבְתָּהּ שֶׁל אָב שֶׁהֲרֵי מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיהָ וְכֶסֶף מְכִירָתָהּ שֶׁל אָבִיהָ הוּא. אֲבָל צַעַר וּבשֶׁת וְרִפּוּי הֲרֵי הוּא שֶׁלָּהּ. וְכֵן נֵזֶק שֶׁאֵינוֹ פּוֹחֲתָהּ מִכַּסְפָּהּ הֲרֵי הוּא שֶׁלָּהּ. וְכֵן הַחוֹבֵל בְּבִתּוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם צַעַר וְרִפּוּי וּבשֶׁת:
The following rules apply when a person injures a girl below the age of majority who is not his own daughter. If the injuries reduce the money her father would receive for consecrating her, the assessment should be given to her father. Similarly, the unemployment assessment should be given to her father, for her wages belong to him, and the money received for selling her as a servant belongs to him. The assessments for pain, embarrassment and medical attention, by contrast, belong to the girl herself. Similarly, if the injuries do not reduce the money he would receive for consecrating her, the assessment should be given to [the daughter]. When a person injures his own daughter, he must pay her only the assessments for pain, medical attention and embarrassment.
הַחוֹבֵל בְּאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ הַשֶּׁבֶת וְהָרִפּוּי לְבַעֲלָהּ וְהַצַּעַר שֶׁלָּהּ. וְהַבּשֶׁת וְהַנֵּזֶק אִם בְּגָלוּי הוּא כְּגוֹן שֶׁחָבַל בְּפָנֶיהָ וּבְצַוָּארָהּ אוֹ בְּיָדֶיהָ וּזְרוֹעוֹתֶיהָ הַשְּׁלִישׁ שֶׁלָּהּ וּשְׁנֵי שְׁלִישִׁים לַבַּעַל. וְאִם בַּסֵּתֶר הוּא הַנֵּזֶק הַשְּׁלִישׁ לַבַּעַל וּשְׁנֵי שְׁלִישִׁים לָאִשָּׁה. שֶׁל בַּעַל נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מִיָּד וְשֶׁל אִשָּׁה יִלָּקַח בָּהֶן קַרְקַע וְהַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹת:
The following rules apply when a person injures a married woman. The unemployment benefits and medical assessment should be given to her husband. With regard to shame and damages, the rules are: If the damage is plainly evident - e.g., he injured the woman's face, her neck, her hands or her arms - a third is given to her, and two thirds are given to her husband. If the damages are in concealed places, a third is given to her husband, and two thirds are given to her. The assessment for the husband should be given to him immediately. The assessment for the woman should be used to purchase land, from which the husband is entitled to the profits.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁחָבְלוּ בָּהּ אֲחֵרִים. אֲבָל הַבַּעַל שֶׁחָבַל בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם לָהּ מִיָּד כָּל הַנֵּזֶק וְכָל הַבּשֶׁת וְהַצַּעַר וְהַכּל שֶׁלָּהּ וְאֵין לַבַּעַל בָּהֶן פֵּרוֹת. וְאִם רָצְתָה לִתֵּן הַדָּמִים לְאַחֵר נוֹתֶנֶת. וְכָזֶה הוֹרוּ הַגְּאוֹנִים. וְהַבַּעַל מְרַפֵּא אוֹתָהּ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמְּרַפֵּא כָּל חָלְיָהּ:
When does the above apply? When others injured her. When, however, a husband injures his wife, he is required to pay her the entire assessment for the damages, the embarrassment and the pain. This money is hers entirely. The husband has no rights to the profits. If she desires to give the money to another person, she may. This is the ruling rendered by the geonim. The husband must pay for her medical expenses, as he pays for all her other medical expenses.
וְהַמַּזִּיק אִשְׁתּוֹ בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה חַיָּב בִּנְזָקֶיהָ:
When a person injures his wife through sexual intercourse, he is liable for the damages.
הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁחָבְלָה בְּבַעְלָהּ אִם הָיָה תּוֹסֶפֶת בִּכְתֻבָּתָהּ מְחַיְּבִין אוֹתָהּ לִמְכֹּר הַתּוֹסֶפֶת לְבַעֲלָהּ בְּטוֹבַת הֲנָאָה וְגוֹבֶה מִמֶּנָּה אִם רָצָה הַבַּעַל. וְאִם רָצָה לְגָרְשָׁהּ וְלִגְבּוֹת מִן הַכּל גּוֹבֶה. וְאִם לֹא הָיָה לָהּ תּוֹסֶפֶת אֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לִמְכֹּר לוֹ עִקַּר כְּתֻבָּתָהּ. שֶׁאָסוּר לוֹ לָאָדָם לַשְׁהוֹת אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ שָׁעָה אַחַת בְּלֹא כְּתֻבָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא קַלָּה בְּעֵינָיו לְהוֹצִיאָהּ. אֶלָּא אִם רָצָה הַבַּעַל כּוֹתֵב עָלֶיהָ שְׁטָר בִּדְמֵי חֲבָלוֹ אוֹ מְגָרְשָׁהּ וְנוֹטֵל מִכְּתֻבָּתָהּ הָרָאוּי לוֹ:
The following rules apply when a woman injures her husband. In a case where he had added an amount above the minimum to her marriage contract, if the husband desires, we require her to sell the right to this additional amount to her husband for the price she would receive for it, and her husband is entitled to collect the damages from these funds. If he desires, he may divorce her and collect the damages from the entire sum of the money due her by virtue of her ketubah. If he had not added an amount above the minimum to her marriage contract, she may not sell him the rights to the money due her by virtue of her ketubah itself, for it is forbidden for a person to remain married to a woman for one moment without a marriage contract. Thus, if the husband desires, he may have a promissory note written obligating her to pay for the damages, or he may divorce her and collect the amount due him from the money due her by virtue of her ketubah.
הַחוֹבֵל בְּבָנָיו הַגְּדוֹלִים אִם אֵין סוֹמְכִין עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ נוֹתֵן לָהֶם מִיָּד. וְהַקְּטַנִּים יִלָּקַח בָּהֶן קַרְקַע בְּנִזְקָן וְהֵן אוֹכְלִין פֵּרוֹתָיו. וְכֵן הַדִּין בַּאֲחֵרִים שֶׁחָבְלוּ בָּהֶן. וְאִם הָיוּ סְמוּכִין עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ וְחָבַל בָּהֶן פָּטוּר בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ גְּדוֹלִים בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ קְטַנִּים. וְאִם חָבְלוּ בָּהֶן אֲחֵרִים בַּגְּדוֹלִים יִתֵּן לָהֶם מִיָּד וּבַקְּטַנִּים יִלָּקַח בָּהֶן קַרְקַע וְהֵן אוֹכְלִין פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ עַד שֶׁיַּגְדִּילוּ:
The following rules apply when a person injures his sons who have attained majority. If they are not dependent on him for their livelihood, he must pay them the damages immediately. If they are below the age of majority, he should purchase land for them with the money due them for the damages,and they are entitled to the benefits. The same rules apply if they are injured by others. If a father injures sons who are dependent on him for their livelihood, he is not liable. This applies whether or not they are above majority. If others injure them, the person who causes the injury must compensate them immediately if they are above majority. If they are below majority, the damages should be used to purchase landed property. They are entitled to its profits until they reach majority at which time the property becomes theirs without limitation.
חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן פְּגִיעָתָן רָעָה. הַחוֹבֵל בָּהֶן חַיָּב וְהֵן שֶׁחָבְלוּ בַּאֲחֵרִים פְּטוּרִין. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּתְפַּתֵּחַ הַחֵרֵשׁ וְנִשְׁתַּפָּה הַשּׁוֹטֶה וְהִגְדִּיל הַקָּטָן אֵינָם חַיָּבִין לְשַׁלֵּם שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁחָבְלוּ בָּהֶן לֹא הָיוּ בְּנֵי דַּעַת:
An encounter with a deaf mute, a mentally incompetent individual or a minor is undesirable. For if a person injures them, he is liable, but if they injure another person, they are not. Even if the deaf mute gains the ability to speak and hear, the mentally incompetent person attains competency, and the minor comes of age, they are not obligated to pay for injuries they caused previously. For at the time they caused the injuries, they were not fully mentally competent.
הָעֶבֶד וְהָאִשָּׁה פְּגִיעָתָן רָעָה הַחוֹבֵל בָּהֶן חַיָּב וְהֵן שֶׁחָבְלוּ בַּאֲחֵרִים פְּטוּרִין. אֲבָל מְשַׁלְּמִין לְאַחַר זְמַן אִם נִתְגָּרְשָׁה הָאִשָּׁה אוֹ מֵת בַּעְלָהּ אוֹ נִשְׁתַּחְרֵר הָעֶבֶד. שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּנֵי דֵּעָה הֵן וַהֲרֵי הֵן כְּבַעַל חוֹב שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מַה יִּגְבֶּה שֶׁאִם הֶעֱשִׁיר חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם:
An encounter with a servant or a married woman is undesirable. For if a person injures them, he is liable, but if they injure another person, they are not liable to pay immediately. They must, however, pay afterwards - i.e., if the woman is divorced or if her husband dies and if the servant is freed. They are held responsible because they are mentally competent. They are considered as a creditor who has no resources with which to pay, and who is thus held liable with regard to damages if he becomes wealthy.
עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם כְּגוּפוֹ וּבְהֶמְתּוֹ כְּמָמוֹנוֹ. כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ גַּחֶלֶת עַל לֵב עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ וּמֵת אוֹ שֶׁדְּחָפוֹ לַיָּם אוֹ לָאֵשׁ וְהוּא יָכוֹל לַעֲלוֹת מִשָּׁם וְלֹא עָלָה וּמֵת פָּטוּר מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין. וְאִם עָשָׂה כֵן לְבֶהֱמַת חֲבֵרוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הִנִּיחַ הַגַּחֶלֶת עַל בִּגְדוֹ וְנִשְׂרַף שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:
A servant belonging to a man is considered as his own person, and an animal as one of his possessions. What is implied? If a person places a burning coal on the heart of a servant belonging to a colleague and causes him to die, or if he pushes him into the sea or into a fire from which the servant could ascend, but the servant fails to do so and died instead, the person who caused his death is not obligated to pay financial compensation. If, however, he does this to an animal belonging to a colleague, it would be considered as if he had placed a coal on a garment and burned it, in which case he would be liable for damages. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.