Derasha 151 on Vayikra 13:18

TT #151 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 18

The Complete Passuk

וּבָשָׂ֕ר כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה בֽוֹ־בְעֹר֖וֹ שְׁחִ֑ין וְנִרְפָּֽא׃

English: When the flesh has a boil on its skin and it heals.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:18

Source Citation

Sifra (Toras Kohanim).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
שחין. אין לי אלא שחין שעלה מאליו; מנין לקה בעץ ובאבן ובגפת ובמי טבריא ובכל דבר שאינו בא מחמת האש הוא שחין? תלמוד לומר שחין שחין ריבה.

English: “Boil”—I know only a boil that arose on its own. From where do we include a lesion caused by wood, stone, olive-press residue, the hot springs of Tiberias, or anything else not caused by fire? Scripture repeats “boil,” broadening the category.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The Sifra expands “boil” to include lesions caused by wood, stone, olive-press residue, and the hot springs of Tiberias, while distinguishing non-fire causes from the separate burn category.