Derasha 94 on Vayikra 13:5

TT #94 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 5

The Complete Passuk

וְרָאָ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵן֮ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֒ וְהִנֵּ֤ה הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ עָמַ֣ד בְּעֵינָ֔יו לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בָּע֑וֹר וְהִסְגִּיר֧וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים שֵׁנִֽית׃

English: On the seventh day the priest shall conduct an examination, and if the affection has remained unchanged in color and the disease has not spread on the skin, the priest shall isolate them for another seven days.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:5

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the suitable daylight and clear vision required for examination.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
יכול כל מראה היום כשר, תלמוד לומר לכל מראה עיני הכהן, מה עיני הכהן פרט לשחשך מאור עיניו, אף היום פרט לשחשך מאור היום.

English: One might think any daytime appearance is suitable. Scripture says “to all the appearance of the priest’s eyes”: just as this excludes a priest whose eyesight has dimmed, so the day excludes times when daylight has dimmed.

Type of Learning

Counting rule

What Is Learned

The Sifra limits examination to suitable daylight; early or dim light can distort the apparent intensity of the mark.