Derasha 126 on Vayikra 13:12

TT #126 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 10

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 active boils and burns from skin that can receive a tzaraas lesion.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
את כל עור הנגע. עור הראוי לקבל נגע, פרט לשחין, המורד ולמכוה המורדת.

English: “The whole skin of the lesion” means skin capable of receiving a lesion; this excludes an active boil and an active burn.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The verse concerns skin capable of receiving a tzaraas lesion, not skin currently occupied by an active boil or burn.