There are five who add a fifth (to the payment of the principal): One who eats t'rumah, [a non-priest who eats t'rumah gedolah unwittingly], and t'rumath ma'aser [ma'aser from ma'aser], and t'rumath ma'aser of demai [One who buys produce from an am ha'aretz must separate t'rumath ma'aser, but not t'rumah gedolah, all being heedful to separate that], and challah, and bikkurim. (One who eats these) adds a fifth. [All of these five are reckoned as one, all being called "t'rumah," and all being subsumed in that category]. And one who redeems neta revai (the fruits of the fourth year) and his ma'aser sheni adds a fifth. [("neta revai":) This is derived: "holy" (Leviticus 19:24) — "holy" (Ibid. 27:30) from ma'aser sheni as adding a fifth. And these two, also, are reckoned as one, both being derived from one verse in respect to ma'aser. ("his ma'aser sheni":) [It is specifically from "his" ma'aser that he adds a fifth, it being written (Ibid. 31): "…a man of his ma'aser."] One who redeems his hekdesh adds a fifth. ["his hekdesh," and not that of others, it being written (Leviticus 27:19): "…he who consecrates it."] One who derives benefit the worth of a p'rutah [unwittingly] from hekdesh is liable for a me'ilah ("abuse") sacrifice and] adds a fifth. And one who steals a p'rutah's worth from his neighbor and swears (falsely) to him adds a fifth.
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
האוכל תרומה – the Great [Priest’s Due] (i.e., 2%). A foreigner (i.e., non-Kohen) who ate the Great Terumah/Priest’s Due.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
This mishnah lists five cases in which a person must add a fifth of the value of something. [Note that the mishnah lists five fifths. This is clearly an aid to memory and not just a coincidence].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
ותרומת מעשר – a tithe from a tithe (i.e., the gift that the Levite gives to a Kohen – one-tenth of what he receives).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
There are five cases in which one must add a fifth: One who eats terumah, or the terumah taken from the tithe, or the terumah from a tithe taken from doubtfully tithed produce, or dough offering, or first fruits, must add a fifth [to the value of the principle when he makes restitution]. This is a list of agricultural offerings which must be given to the Priest. One who eats one of these things accidentally must restore the value of what was eaten plus a fifth. For further explanation of what these offerings are look at the Steinsaltz reference guide.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
ותורמת מעשר של דמאי – He who purchases grain from an ignoramus, needs to separate the tenth-of-a-tenth, but not the Great Priest’s Due, for everyone was careful with it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
One that redeems [the fruit of] a fourth year plant, or his second tithe, must add a fifth. The fruit of a new plant is forbidden for the first three years. During the fourth year the fruit must be brought to Jerusalem and eaten there. So, too, the second tithe must be brought to Jerusalem and eaten there. If a person wishes to avoid carrying such a heavy load of produce all the way to Jerusalem he may “redeem” his produce and bring the money to Jerusalem. [Afterwards he will be able to eat the produce outside of Jerusalem]. If he redeems the produce he must redeem it at a fifth more than its value.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
וחלה וביכורים – all of these five are one, and all of them are called “Terumah”/Priest’s Due, and from one denomination they come.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
One that redeems that which he dedicated [to the Temple] must add a fifth. If someone dedicates something to the Temple and the object which he dedicates cannot be sacrificed at the Temple, such as a piece of land, he can “redeem” the object with money and donate the money to the Temple. If he redeems the dedicated object he must add a fifth of its value.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
נטע רבעי – he derives "קודש"/”holy” (Leviticus 19:27) from "קודש" /”holy” (Leviticus 27:30) from Second Tithe, that one adds one fifth, and both of them are all considered one thing, since from one Biblical verse they are derived, since they are derived from Second Tithe.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
One that derives a perutah’s worth of benefit from that which belongs to the sanctuary must add a fifth [when he makes restitution]. Someone who benefits from that which belongs to the Temple has committed sacrilege. When he makes restitution for that which he has taken, for instance if he illegally ate a sacrifice, he must add a fifth of the value of that which he consumed.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
ומעשר שני שלו – exactly, and he adds one-fifth, since it is written (Leviticus 27:31): “[If anyone wishes to redeem] any of his tithes, he must add one fifth to them.”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
One who steals that which is worth a perutah from his fellow must add a fifth [when he makes restitution]. If a person steals from his fellow and then swears that he did not do so, and subsequently is caught or wishes to repent, he must restore not only the value of that which he stole, but an added fifth as well.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
הקדשו – and not of others, for the word "המקדיש"/”who consecrates (Leviticus 27:19 – “And if he who consecrates the land wishes to redeem it, he must add one-fifth to the sum at which it was assessed, and it shall pass to him.”) is written.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
Questions for Further Thought: • Mishnah eight: Is there another possibility for counting the five “fifths” in mishnah eight?
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
הנהנה – inadvertently, is liable for a sacrifice of sacrilege (i.e., unlawful use of sacred property) and one-fifth.
