Talmud for Makkot 3:10

כַּמָּה מַלְקִין אוֹתוֹ, אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אַחַת. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כה) בְּמִסְפָּר אַרְבָּעִים, מִנְיָן שֶׁהוּא סָמוּךְ לְאַרְבָּעִים. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אַרְבָּעִים שְׁלֵמוֹת הוּא לוֹקֶה. וְהֵיכָן הוּא לוֹקֶה אֶת הַיְתֵרָה, בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו:

How many stripes does he receive? Forty less one, it being written (Deuteronomy 25:2-3): "in number. Forty" — a number which is next to forty, [i.e., which causes "forty" to be said after it; that is, thirty-nine. If "forty in number" were written," I would understand it as "a count of forty." Now that it is written "in number forty," (I understand it as) a number which causes "forty" to be said after it, viz.: thirty-nine.] R. Yehudah says: He receives forty complete lashes. And where does he receive the additional one [(the fortieth) which cannot be "thirded"? For thirty-nine can be thirded: one-third in front, and two-thirds, one-third each on each shoulder. But where is the fortieth administered?] Between his shoulders. [The halachah is not in accordance with R. Yehudah.]

Explore talmud for Makkot 3:10. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.