What is "asmachta"

In Jewish law, an asmachta, or asmakhta, is a conditional commitment or promise that a person makes, but actually has no intention of keeping. The agreement is not considered binding, and the commitment is considered null and void.

Controversy exists as to whether various forms of gambling, including games of chance and lottery tickets, are considered to be an asmachta.

In Talmudical hermeneutics, asmachta is a hint found in the Hebrew Bible for rabbinical prohibitions or any other Halakha. It's an exception in the talmudical hermeneutics, since it doesn't base the law on the cited verse, but uses the verse as a hint.

Sometimes it isn't clear whether the verse has been quoted as an asmachta or as a source, what might lead to a controversy over the de'oraita or derabanan quality of the law. An example for such case is the controversy over the quality of Berakhah levatala - the prohibition to say a prayer outside its context. The Talmud says whoever says unneeded Berakhah violates the verse Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. While Maimonides sees it as a source, Tosafot sees it as an asmachta.