Derasha 168 on Vayikra 13:23

TT #168 · 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 requirement that a declaration of purity be based on a determinate case.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
וְטִהֲרוֹ. אֶת הַוַּדַּאי מְטַהֵר וְאֵינוֹ מְטַהֵר אֶת הַסָּפֵק.

English: 'He shall pronounce him clean': he declares the certain case clean, not a doubtful case.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The priest may pronounce a person clean when the facts establish that status; a doubtful case is not declared clean by this rule.