Derasha 46 on Vayikra 12:6

TT #46 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 6

The Complete Passuk

וּבִמְלֹ֣את ׀ יְמֵ֣י טׇהֳרָ֗הּ לְבֵן֮ א֣וֹ לְבַת֒ תָּבִ֞יא כֶּ֤בֶשׂ בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וּבֶן־יוֹנָ֥ה אוֹ־תֹ֖ר לְחַטָּ֑את אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

English: On the completion of her period of purification, for either son or daughter, she shall bring to the priest, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purgation offering.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 12:6

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Kerisos 28a: turtledoves are listed before young pigeons, but the source rejects the idea that this order makes them superior.

Sefaria — Mishnah Kerisos 6:1 (vowelized text)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Kerisos 28a
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: תּוֹרִין קוֹדְמִין לִבְנֵי יוֹנָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם. יָכוֹל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן מֻבְחָרִים מֵהֶן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (וַיִּקְרָא י״ב), ״וּבֶן יוֹנָה אוֹ תֹר לְחַטָּאת״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם שְׁקוּלִין.

English: Rabbi Shimon says: everywhere turtledoves precede young doves. One might think they are superior; Scripture says “a young dove or a turtledove,” teaching that the two are equal.

Type of Learning

Textual comparison

What Is Learned

The order of mention establishes precedence in wording, not greater ritual value: the source expressly teaches that turtledoves and young pigeons are equal in status.