Commentary for Avodah Zarah 9:17
ות"ק נמי הכתיב אכן כאדם תמותון מאי מיתה עניות דאמר מר ארבעה חשובים כמתים אלו הן עני סומא ומצורע ומי שאין לו בנים
Then how does the first Tanna explain the phrase: “You shall indeed die”? What may be meant here by dying? Poverty, for a Master has said: Four are regarded as dead and they are: the poor, the blind, the leprous, and the childless.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The first tanna would interpret the verse “you shall indeed die” not as referring literally to death, but as referring to other types of suffering people that are regarded as if they are dead.
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