Derasha 212 on Vayikra 11:36

TT #212 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 36

The Complete Passuk

אַךְ מַעְיָן וּבוֹר מִקְוֵה־מַיִם יִהְיֶה טָהוֹר וְנֹגֵעַ בְּנִבְלָתָם יִטְמָא:

English: “Only a spring”: a spring purifies through flowing water, whereas a mikveh purifies only when its water is gathered.

Toras Kohanim.

Core Text

אַךְ מַעְיָן. מַעְיָן מְטַהֵר בְּזוֹחֲלִין וְאֵין מִקְוֶה מְטַהֵר בְּזוֹחֲלִין אֶלָּא בְּאַשְׁבּוּרֶן.

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

Flowing spring water differs from a stationary mikveh.