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Oppression with Words
The system of Torah has many rules that govern monetary transactions. Buying and selling is carefully regulated, including acceptable profit margins. Taking advantage of a buyer’s naïveté is strictly prohibited.
רמב"ם מכירה יד
(יב) כשם שהונייה במקח וממכר כך הונייה בדברים, שנאמר "ולא תונו איש את עמיתו ויראת מאלהיך אני י"י" (ויקרא כ"ה:י"ז), זו הוניית דברים. (יג) כיצד, היה בעל תשובה, לא יאמר לו, זכור מעשיך הראשונים, ואם היה בן גרים, לא יאמר לו, זכור מעשה אבותיך:
Rambam - Laws of Sales Chapter 14
(12) Just as the prohibition against ona'ah applies with regard to business transactions, it applies with regard to speech, as Leviticus 25:17 states: "A person should not abuse his colleague, and you shall fear your God. I am the Lord"; this refers to verbal abuse…(13) What is implied? If a person is one who has repented, one should not say: "Remember your initial deeds." If a person is a descendant of converts, one should not tell him: "Remember your ancestors' deeds."
The Rambam, paraphrasing the Mishna and Talmud (Bava Metzia 58b) explains that the prohibition against oppressing one’s fellow is not limited to the monetary sphere. There is a category of verbal oppression as well. This is based on a verse in Parshat Behar. It includes reminding someone of their past errors, or tormenting someone based on their psychological sensitivities.
רמב"ם מכירה יד:יב
(יח) גדולה הוניית דברים מהוניית ממון, שזו ניתנה להישבון וזו לא ניתנה להישבון, וזו בממונו וזו בגופו. והרי הוא אומר בהוניית דברים "ויראת מאלהיך" (ויקרא כ"ה:י"ז), לפי שהדבר מסור ללב, הא כל דבר שהוא מסור ללב נאמר בו "ויראת מאלהיך". וכל הצועק מהוניית דברים נענה מיד, שנאמר "כי אני י"י" (ויקרא כ“ה:י"ז):
Rambam - Laws of Sales Chapter 14
(18) Verbally abusing a person is more severe than taking unfair advantage of him financially. For the latter can be repaid, while the former can never be repaid. The latter involves only the person's possessions, while the former involves his person.And with regard to verbal abuse, Leviticus 25:17 states: "And you shall fear your God," for the matter is one of feelings. With regard to all matters of feeling, the Torah states: "And you shall fear your God.” Whenever a person cries out because of verbal abuse, he is answered immediately, as implied by the conclusion of the above verse: "...I am God."
The Rambam also quotes the Talmud (Bava Metzia 58b) noting that oppressing someone verbally is more severe than oppressing someone monetarily. Two reasons are recorded in the Talmud, presented by Rebbe Elazer and Rebbe Shmuel Bar Nachmeni respectively. The first is that verbal oppression impacts the person themselves as opposed to their money. The second, that monetary damage can easily be corrected, whereas damage to a person is not easy to remedy.
The Torah takes verbal matters seriously. As the Maharsha explains in his commentary on the Talmud (Bava Metzia 58b), taking advantage of someone monetarily is perhaps more objective and easy to recognize. This might lead one to gloss over verbal behavior, thinking it less significant. That is why the verse says, “and you shall fear your God”, even in this area which may be subtle or less apparent. The impact of verbal behavior upon a person can be more significant. Monetary damage can be limited and easy to quantify. Not so with emotional distress. Emotional harm can have a long-lasting impact. Thus we are warned to take our verbal behavior seriously, and to exercise discipline, caution, and sensitivity in both monetary and social interactions.
References
Maimonides, M., Touger, E., Kaplan, B., Abramson, Z., & Silverstein, S. (2007). Mishneh Torah. New York: Moznaim Pub. Retrieved from: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/682956/jewish/Mishneh-Torah.htm
Rosenberg, A. (1980). A new English translation of the Hebrew Bible text and Rashi, with a commentary digest. New York: Judaica Press. Retrieved from: https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/
Steinsaltz, A., In Weinreb, T. H., In Schreier, J., & Hotsaat Koren (Jerusalem),. (2017). Koren Talmud Bavli, the Noe edition: Talmud Bavli. Retrieved from: https://shas.alhatorah.org/
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bentorah.substack.com
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By Ben TorahThe system of Torah has many rules that govern monetary transactions. Buying and selling is carefully regulated, including acceptable profit margins. Taking advantage of a buyer’s naïveté is strictly prohibited.
רמב"ם מכירה יד
(יב) כשם שהונייה במקח וממכר כך הונייה בדברים, שנאמר "ולא תונו איש את עמיתו ויראת מאלהיך אני י"י" (ויקרא כ"ה:י"ז), זו הוניית דברים. (יג) כיצד, היה בעל תשובה, לא יאמר לו, זכור מעשיך הראשונים, ואם היה בן גרים, לא יאמר לו, זכור מעשה אבותיך:
Rambam - Laws of Sales Chapter 14
(12) Just as the prohibition against ona'ah applies with regard to business transactions, it applies with regard to speech, as Leviticus 25:17 states: "A person should not abuse his colleague, and you shall fear your God. I am the Lord"; this refers to verbal abuse…(13) What is implied? If a person is one who has repented, one should not say: "Remember your initial deeds." If a person is a descendant of converts, one should not tell him: "Remember your ancestors' deeds."
The Rambam, paraphrasing the Mishna and Talmud (Bava Metzia 58b) explains that the prohibition against oppressing one’s fellow is not limited to the monetary sphere. There is a category of verbal oppression as well. This is based on a verse in Parshat Behar. It includes reminding someone of their past errors, or tormenting someone based on their psychological sensitivities.
רמב"ם מכירה יד:יב
(יח) גדולה הוניית דברים מהוניית ממון, שזו ניתנה להישבון וזו לא ניתנה להישבון, וזו בממונו וזו בגופו. והרי הוא אומר בהוניית דברים "ויראת מאלהיך" (ויקרא כ"ה:י"ז), לפי שהדבר מסור ללב, הא כל דבר שהוא מסור ללב נאמר בו "ויראת מאלהיך". וכל הצועק מהוניית דברים נענה מיד, שנאמר "כי אני י"י" (ויקרא כ“ה:י"ז):
Rambam - Laws of Sales Chapter 14
(18) Verbally abusing a person is more severe than taking unfair advantage of him financially. For the latter can be repaid, while the former can never be repaid. The latter involves only the person's possessions, while the former involves his person.And with regard to verbal abuse, Leviticus 25:17 states: "And you shall fear your God," for the matter is one of feelings. With regard to all matters of feeling, the Torah states: "And you shall fear your God.” Whenever a person cries out because of verbal abuse, he is answered immediately, as implied by the conclusion of the above verse: "...I am God."
The Rambam also quotes the Talmud (Bava Metzia 58b) noting that oppressing someone verbally is more severe than oppressing someone monetarily. Two reasons are recorded in the Talmud, presented by Rebbe Elazer and Rebbe Shmuel Bar Nachmeni respectively. The first is that verbal oppression impacts the person themselves as opposed to their money. The second, that monetary damage can easily be corrected, whereas damage to a person is not easy to remedy.
The Torah takes verbal matters seriously. As the Maharsha explains in his commentary on the Talmud (Bava Metzia 58b), taking advantage of someone monetarily is perhaps more objective and easy to recognize. This might lead one to gloss over verbal behavior, thinking it less significant. That is why the verse says, “and you shall fear your God”, even in this area which may be subtle or less apparent. The impact of verbal behavior upon a person can be more significant. Monetary damage can be limited and easy to quantify. Not so with emotional distress. Emotional harm can have a long-lasting impact. Thus we are warned to take our verbal behavior seriously, and to exercise discipline, caution, and sensitivity in both monetary and social interactions.
References
Maimonides, M., Touger, E., Kaplan, B., Abramson, Z., & Silverstein, S. (2007). Mishneh Torah. New York: Moznaim Pub. Retrieved from: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/682956/jewish/Mishneh-Torah.htm
Rosenberg, A. (1980). A new English translation of the Hebrew Bible text and Rashi, with a commentary digest. New York: Judaica Press. Retrieved from: https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/
Steinsaltz, A., In Weinreb, T. H., In Schreier, J., & Hotsaat Koren (Jerusalem),. (2017). Koren Talmud Bavli, the Noe edition: Talmud Bavli. Retrieved from: https://shas.alhatorah.org/
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bentorah.substack.com