Derasha 81 on Vayikra 13:3

TT #81 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 3

The Complete Passuk

וְרָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֣ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֣גַע בְּעֽוֹר־הַ֠בָּשָׂ֠ר וְשֵׂעָ֨ר בַּנֶּ֜גַע הָפַ֣ךְ ׀ לָבָ֗ן וּמַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ עָמֹק֙ מֵע֣וֹר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ נֶ֥גַע צָרַ֖עַת ה֑וּא וְרָאָ֥הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטִמֵּ֥א אֹתֽוֹ׃

English: The priest shall examine the affection on the skin: if hair in the affected patch has turned white and the affection appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a leprous affection on the skin; and if the priest sees that it is a leprous affection, the priest shall pronounce the person impure.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:3

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the minimum number of hairs required for this sign.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
ושער בנגע. מעוט שער שתים.

English: “And hair in the lesion”—the minimum number of hairs is two.

Type of Learning

Textual qualification

What Is Learned

The Sifra derives that two hairs are the minimum number relevant to this sign.