Derasha 120 on Vayikra 13:11

TT #120 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 10

The Complete Passuk

צָרַ֨עַת נוֹשֶׁ֤נֶת הִוא֙ בְּע֣וֹר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ וְטִמְּא֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן לֹ֣א יַסְגִּרֶ֔נּוּ כִּ֥י טָמֵ֖א הֽוּא׃

English: It is chronic leprosy on the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him impure; he shall not isolate him, for he is impure.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:11

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the rule that an already assigned impure status is not followed by another isolation or definitive declaration.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
ומניין שאין מחליטין את המוסגר ואין מסגירין את המוסגר, ת"ל לא יסגירנו כי טמא הוא, כל שנקרא עליו שם טומאה אין זקוק לו.

English: And from where do we learn that one who is confined is not made definitive and that one who is confined is not confined again? The verse says, “He shall not shut him up, for he is impure”: once a person has been designated with impurity, no further action is required.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

Once the person has a recognized impure status, the priest does not begin a new isolation or repeat a definitive declaration for that same status.