If one said: I seduced that man's daughter, he pays bosheth and p'gam by his own testimony [Not only if he says: I forced her, where he does not injure her that much, the la'az ("ill report") of one who was forced not being that great — not only in such an instance does he pay by his own testimony; but even if he says: I seduced her, where he injures her more, the la'az of one who was seduced being great, so that we might think we do not believe him to strengthen the la'az — we nevertheless say that she would prefer this (that he be believed) in order to gain the money thereby.], and he does not pay knass. [For one who admits to knass is exempt from it, it being written (Exodus 22:8): "Whom the judges incriminate shall pay double" — to exclude one who incriminates himself.] If one says: I stole, I slaughtered, and I sold, he pays the principal (keren) by his own testimony, but he does not pay the double payment (kefel) and the "four and five" payment. (If he says:) My ox killed that man [and I owe kofer (the "ransom" payment), he pays by his own testimony, it being held that kofer is monetary payment (and not knass)], or (if he says: My ox killed) that man's ox, he pays by his own testimony. (If he says:) My ox killed that man's bondsman [and I owe thirty sela], he does not pay by his own testimony, [for it (thirty sela) is knass, thirty sela being given even if he is not worth one sela.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Ketubot
האומר פתיתי את בתו של פלוני – needless to say the person who states I raped [her], that he does not damage her so much for there is no such great evil talk of an outraged woman (i.e., who had been raped) for it is self-evident that he pays shame and damages by his own testimony [but rather] even a person who says, “I seduced [her], causes her greater damage for the evil talk of a seduced woman is greater, and you might think I would say that we don’t believe him to attach merit to the evil report, it comes to teach us that it is beneficial to her for herself to attach merit to the evil report in order to profit from the money
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English Explanation of Mishnah Ketubot
Introduction
The concept taught in this mishnah is that one who admits of his own accord that he has committed a crime, without before having evidence brought against him, is exempt from paying the fine. He must, however, pay any penalties that are compensatory and not considered fines.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Ketubot
ואינו משלם קנס – for he admits that with regard to a fine, he is exempt, as Scripture states (Exodus 22:8): “He whom God declares guilty [shall pay double to the other],” except for one who accuses himself (see Talmud Bava Kamma 64b).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Ketubot
He who declares, “I seduced the daughter of so-and-so” must pay compensation for embarrassment and blemish on his own admission but need not pay the fine. If a person admits that he seduced someone’s daughter he does not pay the fine. He does, however, make the other payments.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Ketubot
המית שורי את פלוני – and behold I am liable for indemnity through his own [testimony], for he holds that the fine is an indemnification.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Ketubot
He who declares, “I have stolen” must make restitution for the principal on his own evidence but need not repay double, fourfold or fivefold. A thief is liable to pay back double the amount which he stole. If he slaughtered or sold the animal he must pay back four or five times its value. The double, fourfold and fivefold payments are fines, whereas the restitution for the principal is not a fine. Therefore, if a man admits to having stolen something, he only pays the principal.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Ketubot
עבדו של פלוני – and behold I am liable thirty Selah, he is exempt, for they are a fine and even if it is not worth a Selah, he gives thirty [Selaim].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Ketubot
[He who declares,] “My ox has killed so-and-so” or “the ox of so-and-so” must make restitution on his own evidence. [If he said] “My ox has killed the slave of so-and-so” he need not make restitution on his own evidence. If a person’s ox kills someone or someone else’s ox, the ox owner must make financial restitution (see Exodus 21:30). This is not considered a fine and therefore if a person admits that his ox killed another ox or a human being, he must make restitution. However, if an ox kills a slave there is an automatic penalty of 30 shekels (see Exodus 21:32). Since this is a fixed sum, a person who admits that his ox did so is not liable to pay the fine.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Ketubot
This is the general rule: whoever pays more than the actual cost of the damage he has done need not pay it on his own evidence. The mishnah now sums up what we learned above. If a person is liable to pay a fine that is more than the actual damage, or actually a sum that is set arbitrarily and is independent of the damage, he doesn’t pay upon his own admission. The reasoning behind this may be that fines are in order to prevent the person from committing another crime. Therefore, if he comes forward and admits to what he has done (and it was not otherwise known) the need for a penalty does not exist. On the other hand compensation is needed for the loss incurred by the victim and therefore compensatory penalties are paid in any case.
