More Than Just Male and Female: The Six Genders in Ancient Jewish Thought

(1) An Androginus (a hermaphrodite, who has both male and female reproductive organs) is similar to men in some ways and to women in other ways, in some ways to both and in some ways to neither.

(2) In what ways is s/he similar to men? Like a man, s/he is considered unclean through semen; is required to perform yibum (to marry the widow of a childless brother) like a man; dresses and cuts hair like a man; marries others and is not married off, like a man; and is obliged to perform all the commandments in the Torah, like a man.

In what ways is s/he similar to women? Like a woman, s/he is considered unclean through menstrual flow; s/he must not be alone in the company of men; and does not share [the inheritance] with sons; and cannot eat most of the holy sacrifices, like a woman...

(4) Rabbi Yehoshua said: I have heard that a saris (eunuch) undergoes Chalitzah [the ceremony releasing the widow of a childless man from the obligation of Levirate marriage] and that one undergoes Chalitzah for his wife; and that a eunuch does not undergo Chalitzah and that one does not undergo Chalitzah for his wife, but I am unable to explain this. Rabbi Akiva said: I will explain it: a man-eunuch [castrated by a person] undergoes Chalitzah and one undergoes Chalitzah for his wife because there was a time when he was fit [to have children]; a sun-eunuch [who was born that way] does not undergo Chalitzah nor does one undergo Chalitzah for his wife since there was never a time when he was fit. Rabbi Eliezer says: Not so! Rather, a sun-eunuch undergoes Chalitzah and one undergoes Chalitzah for his wife because because there is a cure; a man-eunuch does not undergo Chalitzah nor does one undergo Chalitzah for his wife since he has no cure. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Betiera testified concerning Ben Megusat who was a man-eunuch in Jerusalem and they performed Yibum [Levirate marriage wherein a man weds his childless brother's widow] for his wife, to uphold the opinion of Rabbi Akiva.

(5) The eunuch neither undergoes Chalitzah nor performs Yibum. Similarly, an aiylonit [a woman with arrested sexual development who cannot bear children] neither performs Chalitzah nor undergoes Yibum. [If] a eunuch underwent Chalitzah from his Yevama [a woman whose husband died childless and whose brother-in-law must marry or dismiss her] he does not disqualify her [from subsequently marrying a priest]. If he had relations with her he does disqualify her since this is licentious relations [because she is forbidden to him]. Similarly, [if] brothers underwent Chalitzah from aiylonit they do not disqualify her [from marrying a priest]. If they had relations with her they do disqualify her since this is licentious relations.

(6) [If] a priest who was a sun-eunuch married the daughter of an Israelite, he confers upon her the right to eat Terumah [a portion of a crop given to a priest which becomes holy upon separation and may only be consumed by priests and their households]. Rabbi Yose and Rabbi Shimon said: [If] a priest who was an androginos [person with both male and female sexual organs. It is halachically uncertain whether such a person is male, female or, perhaps, has a uniquely defined halachic gender] married the daughter of an Israelite, he confers upon her the right to eat Terumah . Rabbi Yehudah said: [If] a tumtum [person with recessed sexual organs whose gender is therefore impossible to determine, presently, by external examination. It is halachically uncertain whether such a person is male or female] was torn and found to be male he may not undergo Chalitzah because he is like a eunuch. An androginosmay marry [a woman] but may not be married [to a man]. Rabbi Eliezer said: [If one has relations with] an androginos he is liable to be stoned like one [who has relations with] a male.

So G-d created the human beings in [the divine] image, creating [them] in the image of G-d, creating them male and female.

R. Ammi stated: Abraham and Sarah were originally tumtumin; for it is said, (Isaiah 51:1) "Look unto to the rock

whence you were hewn and to the hole of the pit whence you were dug," and this is followed by the text, Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bore you.

R. Nahman stated in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha: Our mother Sarah was an aylonit; for it is said, And Sarai was barren; she had no child, she had not even a womb.