Nezikin

Nezikin, meaning "Damages" in Hebrew, is a term used for one of the six orders (sedarim) of the Mishnah and, by extension, a major section of the Talmud. It covers civil and criminal law in the Hebrew law tradition, focusing on liability, property, and ethical conduct. The order is sometimes referred to by its opening tractates, notably Bava Kamma, Bava Metzia, and Bava Batra, which form the classical trilogy on damages, property, and commerce. It also includes tractates that deal with courts, penalties, oaths, and ethical guidance, such as Sanhedrin, Makkot, Shevuot, Eduyot, Avot (Pirkei Avot), and Horayot. The name Nezikin reflects the central concern with compensating or penalizing wrongfully caused harms.

Scope and content: Nezikin addresses who bears responsibility for harm to people or property, the liability of owners for damage caused by their animals or negligence, rules governing lost or stolen property, contracts and exchange, and questions of court procedure and public governance. It blends practical civil law with moral and ethical instruction, illustrating how jurisprudence intertwines with daily life and communal norms. The tractates are studied in parallel in the Babylonian and Palestinian (Jerusalem) Talmuds, where discussion and refinement of laws continue through late antiquity and into medieval scholarship.

Significance: As a foundational source for rabbinic civil law, Nezikin has influenced halakha and legal reasoning beyond purely religious contexts. Its discussions on liability, compensation, evidence, and judicial procedure remain central to Jewish legal thought and are often cited in rabbinic discourse on how communities adjudicate disputes and protect rights.