Derasha 222 on Vayikra 11:38

TT #222 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 38

The Complete Passuk

וְכִי יֻתַּן־מַיִם עַל־זֶרַע וְנָפַל מִנִּבְלָתָם עָלָיו טָמֵא הוּא לָכֶם:

English: “It is impure”: the item itself is impure, but it does not automatically make another item like itself impure.

Pesachim 14a.

Core Text

טָמֵא הוּא. הוּא טָמֵא וְאֵין עוֹשֶׂה כְּיוֹצֵא בוֹ טָמֵא.

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

Contaminated food is not itself a biblical source that makes another food similarly impure.