Derasha 164 on Vayikra 13:22

TT #164 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 22

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־פָּשֹׂ֥ה תִפְשֶׂ֖ה בָּע֑וֹר וְטִמֵּ֧א הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֹת֖וֹ נֶ֥גַע הִֽוא׃

English: If it spreads in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an affliction.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:22

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the requirement that the priest’s declaration of impurity be certain rather than doubtful.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
וְטִמֵּא הַכֹּהֵן אֹתוֹ. אוֹתוֹ וַדַּאי הוּא מְטַמֵּא וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא אֶת הַסָּפֵק.

English: 'The priest shall pronounce him unclean': he declares certain impurity, not a doubtful case.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The priest declares a person impure only when the case is definite; uncertainty alone does not support this declaration.