Derasha 130 on Vayikra 13:12

TT #130 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 12

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־פָּר֨וֹחַ תִּפְרַ֤ח הַצָּרַ֙עַת֙ בָּע֔וֹר וְכִסְּתָ֣ה הַצָּרַ֗עַת אֵ֚ת כׇּל־ע֣וֹר הַנֶּ֔גַע מֵרֹאשׁ֖וֹ וְעַד־רַגְלָ֑יו לְכׇל־מַרְאֵ֖ה עֵינֵ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

English: If the eruption spreads out in the skin, so that the eruption covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, as far as the priest can see,

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:12

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for excluding a kohen with impaired vision in either eye from examining lesions.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
לכל מראה עיני הכהן. כהן הסומא באחד מעיניו או שכהה מאור עיניו לא יראה את הנגעים, שנאמר לכל מראה עיני הכהן.

English: A priest blind in one eye, or whose eyesight has dimmed, may not inspect lesions, as the verse says, “for every appearance of the priest’s eyes.”

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The rule also excludes a kohen with partial or diminished vision, not only one who is completely blind.