Derasha 193 on Vayikra 11:33

TT #193 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 33

The Complete Passuk

וְכָל־כְּלִי־חֶרֶשׂ אֲשֶׁר־יִפֹּל מֵהֶם אֶל־תּוֹכוֹ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹכוֹ יִטְמָא וְאֹתוֹ תִשְׁבֹּרוּ:

English: “Into its midst”: an earthen vessel contracts impurity through its interior, but not through its outer back.

Kelim 2:1.

Sefaria — Mishnah Kelim 2:1

Core Text

אֶל תּוֹכוֹ. מִתּוֹכוֹ הוּא מְטַמֵּא וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא מִגַּבּוֹ.

Halachic distinction — The Chazal derives the stated rule directly from the wording of the verse.

The impurity acts from the interior, not the exterior.