Study Shevuot folio 46B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ואמר ״לקוחין הן בידי״ – אינו נאמן. ולא אמרן אלא בעל הבית שאינו עשוי למכור כליו, אבל בעל הבית העשוי למכור את כליו – נאמן. ושאין עשוי למכור את כליו נמי – לא אמרן אלא דברים שאין דרכן להטמין, אבל דברים שדרכן להטמין – נאמן.
and then that person says: They were purchased and that is why they are in my possession, he is not deemed credible. And we said this only with regard to items taken from a homeowner who is not apt to sell his items; but with regard to a homeowner who is apt to sell his items, the one taking the items is deemed credible. And even with regard to a homeowner who is not apt to sell his items, we said that the one carrying the items is not deemed credible only with regard to items that are not typically concealed; but with regard to items that are typically concealed, he is deemed credible.
ושאין דרכן להטמין נמי – לא אמרן אלא איניש דלא צניע, אבל איניש דצניע – היינו אורחיה. ולא אמרן אלא זה אומר ״שאולין״ וזה אומר ״לקוחין״, אבל בגנובין – לאו כל כמיניה; לאחזוקי איניש בגנבי לא מחזקינן.
And even with regard to items that are not typically concealed, we said that he is not deemed credible only with regard to a person who is not generally secretive, but with regard to a person who is generally secretive, that is his manner, i.e., he would be likely to conceal items beneath his clothing, and he is deemed credible. And we said this only when this one, the homeowner, says: The items are borrowed, and that one who took the items, says: They are purchased, but in a case where the homeowner claims that the items are stolen, it is not in his power to have his accusation accepted, as we do not presume a person to be a thief.
ולא אמרן אלא בדברים העשוין להשאיל ולהשכיר, אבל דברים שאין עשוין להשאיל ולהשכיר – נאמן. דשלח רב הונא בר אבין: דברים העשוין להשאיל ולהשכיר, ואמר ״לקוחין הן בידי״ – אינו נאמן. כי הא דרבא אפיק זוגא דסרבלא וספרא דאגדתא מיתמי, בדברים העשוין להשאיל ולהשכיר.
Furthermore, we said that the one who claims he purchased the items is not deemed credible only with regard to items that are typically lent or rented, where the homeowner’s claim that they must now be returned is more reasonable; but for items that are not typically lent or rented, the person who took them is deemed credible. As Rav Huna bar Avin sent a ruling to the rabbis: With regard to items that are typically lent or rented that someone took and said: They were purchased and that is why they are in my possession, he is not deemed credible. This is like that incident where Rava ruled to expropriate fabric scissors and a book of aggada from orphans whose father had taken them, as they were items that are typically lent or rented.