Derasha 166 on Vayikra 13:23

TT #166 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 23

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־תַּחְתֶּ֜יהָ תַעֲמֹ֤ד הַבַּהֶ֙רֶת֙ לֹ֣א פָשָׂ֔תָה צָרֶ֥בֶת הַשְּׁחִ֖ין הִ֑וא וְטִהֲר֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

English: If the bright spot remains in its place and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:23

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the recognizable crusted stage of the scar of a boil.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
צָרֶבֶת הַשְּׁחִין. עַד שֶׁתִּקְרוֹם כְּקְלִיפַּת הַשּׁוּם.

English: The scar of the boil has formed when it crusts like the peel of a garlic clove.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The scar is identified by a crust comparable to the peel of a garlic clove, rather than an actively open lesion.