Jastrow: עַרְבָא II

עַרְבָא II m. = h. עָרֵב III, bondsman, surety. B. Bath. 173ᵇ בתר ע׳ אזלי they (the Persian courts) go for the surety (without suing the debtor at all). Ib. 174ᵃ ע׳ דיתמי a bondsman for heirs, i.e. one who had gone security for the decedent. Sot. 37ᵇ ע׳ וע׳ דע׳ איכא בינייהו the difference between the two opinions lies in the question whether each bondsman (for the entire people at the covenant of Sinai) was also a bondsman for the bondsman, i.e. responsible for those failing to prevent wrongdoing. Gitt. 28ᵇ (proverbial expression) עַרְבָיךְ ע׳ צריך thy bondsman requires a bondsman, i.e. he on whom you rely for vigilance might be neglectful himself; Succ. 26ᵃ ערביך ע׳ צריך thy watchman might likewise fall asleep. Sabb. 140ᵇ ואנא ע׳ and I vouch for it; a. fr.