Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 31:18

והא סימנין דאין להם קצבה וקתני אמר רב ספרא אין להם קצבה למעלה אבל יש להם קצבה

[others]. But what else does he omit, that he omits this?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is reasonable that several items are omitted, but not just one.');"><sup>35</sup></span> - He omits her master's death.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For his heirs do not inherit her; infra 17b.');"><sup>36</sup></span> If it is on account of her master's death<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That you say the Tanna also omits her father's death.');"><sup>37</sup></span> - that is no omission; since that applies to a male [slave] too, it is not taught. Then let it be taught!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the maid is freed by her father's death, since nothing else is omitted.');"><sup>38</sup></span> - That which may be fixed is taught;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The term of six years and the proportionate repayment of the purchase price and the Jubilee are all fixed and ascertainable.');"><sup>39</sup></span> that which can not be fixed is not taught. But 'SIGNS', which are not fixed,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Not all women receive the evidences of puberty at the same age.');"><sup>40</sup></span> are nevertheless taught? - Said R'Safra: They are not fixed above, yet are fixed

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

“Signs” of puberty are also not fixed and yet the mishnah taught that the female slave does go free at that point.
The answer is that while there is no latest date at which a sign can appear, there is an earliest date. If signs of puberty appear too early, they are not considered halakhically speaking to be signs of puberty.
There is a dispute about when a sign of puberty is considered to be a “sign” or just a “mole.” But all agree that after thirteen, any sign that appears on a boy is a sign of puberty.
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