The status of an abandoned child (Hebrew: "asufi") was determined by the state in which it was found. If there were indications that the foundling had been abandoned due to the parents being unable to support it, then Halakhically the child would not be a "mamzer". However, if the unknown parents could have supported the child, it was regarded as potentially being a mamzer. A child whose mother is known, but not the father, was known as "silent one" (Hebrew: "shetuki"), and fell into the same category as a foundling; this status, however, could be changed if the mother knew and revealed the identity of the father.