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'''Lifnei iver''' (), in Jewish law, is the prohibition of taking advantage of a vulnerable person. It is one of the fundamental 613 commandments of Jewish law. The prohibition finds its basis in : "Before a blind man, you shall not put a stumbling block", and is greatly expanded upon in the Oral Torah. ''Lifnei iver'' is one of the offenses which the Talmud records as being punishable by Cherem (excommunication). In Christian theology as well, there is established the concept of a "'stumbling block'."
Several halakhic principles are derived from this commandment. The Oral Torah expands the law from its strictly literal sense, of placing an obstacle in front of a blind person, to include related forms of malice. The Sifra (a midrash from the time of the Mishna) states that, in its figurative sense, the commandment forbids one to give bad or damaging advice; after all, the receiving party is "blind" in this matter and will "stumble" as a result of the improper guidance (Sifra de-vei Rav, Kedoshim 2:14). ''Lifnei iver'' is therefore considered to be figurative for misleading anyone.
The Talmud (tractate Avodah Zarah 6b) expands the principle to include giving anyone the means or opportunity to commit a sin where that person would otherwise lack these. Examples given there include giving a cup of wine to a person who has taken the nazirite vow (which forbids him/her to partake in wine or grape products).
''Lifnei iver'' as a principle recurs many times in practical Jewish law. The authoritative Shulkhan Arukh, for example, warns a father not to physically chastise older children, as this will only entice them to hit back, which is a capital offense (Shulkhan Arukh, Yorei Deah 240:20).
One of the operative principles in this law is whether the "blind" one, who is helped to violate a precept, could or would have been able to offend without the actions of the enabler. The Talmud establishes the principle of ''Trei Ivra D'Nahara'' (lit. "two sides of the river"). In the prototypical example, a nazirite, who is forbidden to drink wine, is handed wine by the enabler. If the nazirite would otherwise have had to cross a river to obtain wine, the enabler is guilty of transgressing ''lifnei iver''. If wine was available on the same side of the river, the enabler would not transgress ''lifnei iver''. However, the Rabbis of the Sanhedrin instituted a prohibition for even the latter action.
★ Misguiding the Perplexed: The Laws of Lifnei Iver, , Yair, Hoffman, Israel Book Shop, ,
★ A Stumbling Block: What it is and What it isn't
| Contents |
| Derivative laws |
| Degree of culpability |
| Jewish Sources |
| Christian Sources |
Derivative laws
Several halakhic principles are derived from this commandment. The Oral Torah expands the law from its strictly literal sense, of placing an obstacle in front of a blind person, to include related forms of malice. The Sifra (a midrash from the time of the Mishna) states that, in its figurative sense, the commandment forbids one to give bad or damaging advice; after all, the receiving party is "blind" in this matter and will "stumble" as a result of the improper guidance (Sifra de-vei Rav, Kedoshim 2:14). ''Lifnei iver'' is therefore considered to be figurative for misleading anyone.
The Talmud (tractate Avodah Zarah 6b) expands the principle to include giving anyone the means or opportunity to commit a sin where that person would otherwise lack these. Examples given there include giving a cup of wine to a person who has taken the nazirite vow (which forbids him/her to partake in wine or grape products).
''Lifnei iver'' as a principle recurs many times in practical Jewish law. The authoritative Shulkhan Arukh, for example, warns a father not to physically chastise older children, as this will only entice them to hit back, which is a capital offense (Shulkhan Arukh, Yorei Deah 240:20).
Degree of culpability
One of the operative principles in this law is whether the "blind" one, who is helped to violate a precept, could or would have been able to offend without the actions of the enabler. The Talmud establishes the principle of ''Trei Ivra D'Nahara'' (lit. "two sides of the river"). In the prototypical example, a nazirite, who is forbidden to drink wine, is handed wine by the enabler. If the nazirite would otherwise have had to cross a river to obtain wine, the enabler is guilty of transgressing ''lifnei iver''. If wine was available on the same side of the river, the enabler would not transgress ''lifnei iver''. However, the Rabbis of the Sanhedrin instituted a prohibition for even the latter action.
Jewish Sources
★ Misguiding the Perplexed: The Laws of Lifnei Iver, , Yair, Hoffman, Israel Book Shop, ,
Christian Sources
★ A Stumbling Block: What it is and What it isn't
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