Teacher of the second century (second and third tannaitic periods); disciple of Joshua b. Hananiah and colleague of Eleazar b. Ḥiṣma (Tosef., Soṭah, 7:9; Ḥag. 3a). He maintained a scholarly intercourse with Johanan b. Nuri. Quite a considerable number of halakot has been handed down in his name, and many of them, particularly those concerning marital and civil affairs, were adopted as law ('Er. 8:2; B. Ḳ. 10:2; B. B. 8:5; Kelim, 17:11). He is also cited in the Haggadah. According to him, the saying (Genesis 1:28), "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth," implies that the duty of racial propagation devolves upon woman as well as upon man (Yeb. 6:6). He taught that whoever profanes the name of God, even secretly, is punished publicly, whether the deed is committed intentionally or unintentionally (Ab. 4:4; Ab. R. N., ed. Schechter, p. 35a).