Bava Batra 154 – One Who Forbids Something Can Also Allow It

The rule "The mouth that forbids it is the mouth that allows it" can be illustrated as follows. In a case where a woman told the court that she was married but added that she divorced or that her husband died, her first statement makes it forbidden for her to marry other men, but the second one makes it allowed. If we believe the first statement, we should also believe the second one.

When one says, "(1) I did bequest you this gift, (2) but I was sick then, and now that I recovered that gift is invalid," we should follow the "mouth" rule and believe him. However, Rabbi Meir considers the gift document as valid without certification. If so, we know (1) from the document itself and do not believe the man on (2).

Art: The Sailor's Wedding by Richard Caton Woodville