Derasha 59 on Vayikra 12:8

TT #59 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 8

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־לֹ֨א תִמְצָ֣א יָדָהּ֮ דֵּ֣י שֶׂה֒ וְלָקְחָ֣ה שְׁתֵּֽי־תֹרִ֗ים א֤וֹ שְׁנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יוֹנָ֔ה אֶחָ֥ד לְעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶחָ֣ד לְחַטָּ֑את וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֛יהָ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטָהֵֽרָה׃ {פ}

English: The Gemara asks how the status of one who lacks atonement is derived. Rav Huna answers from the verse “the priest shall make expiation for her, and she shall be pure”: the word “pure” implies that she was previously impure.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 12:8

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Zevachim 19b for the status of a person who has not yet brought the required atonement offering (mechusar kippurim).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Zevachim 19b
״מְחוּסַּר כִּיפּוּרִים״. מְנָלַן? אָמַר רַב הוּנָא, אָמַר קְרָא: ״וְכִפֶּר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן וְטָהֵרָה״ — טָהֵרָה מִכְּלַל שֶׁהִיא טְמֵאָה.

English: “One who lacks atonement” — from where do we know this status? Rav Huna says Scripture states, “The priest shall make expiation for her, and she shall be pure.” The word “pure” implies that she was impure until that atonement was completed.

Type of Learning

Textual order

What Is Learned

A person who has immersed but has not yet brought the required offering remains a mechusar kippurim. The verse’s “and she shall be pure” implies that the offering completes the process.