Derasha 157 on Vayikra 11:27

TT #157 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 27

The Complete Passuk

וְכֹל הוֹלֵךְ עַל־כַּפָּיו בְּכָל־הַחַיָּה הַהֹלֶכֶת עַל־אַרְבַּע טְמֵאִים הֵם לָכֶם כָּל־הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּנִבְלָתָם יִטְמָא עַד־הָעָרֶב:

Chabad.org — Vayikra Chapter 11 with Rashi

English: And whatever walks on its paws among all the animals that walk on four legs shall be impure for you; whoever touches their carcass shall be impure until evening.

Source Citation

Sifra (Toras Kohanim), Shemini, Chapter 6.

Sefaria — Sifra, Shemini, Chapter 6

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

הַהֹלֶכֶת עַל אַרְבַּע. לְרַבּוֹת חַיּוֹת טְמֵאוֹת בְּכָל הַחַיָּה, לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַפִּיל.

Type of Learning

Comprehensive extension — The general wording includes other impure land animals and the elephant within the category.

What Is Learned

The wording extends the category to impure animals and specifically includes the elephant.