Derasha 170 on Vayikra 13:24

TT #170 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 4 · Passuk 24

The Complete Passuk

א֣וֹ בָשָׂ֔ר כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה בְעֹר֖וֹ מִכְוַת־אֵ֑שׁ וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה מִֽחְיַ֣ת הַמִּכְוָ֗ה בַּהֶ֛רֶת לְבָנָ֥ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת א֥וֹ לְבָנָֽה׃

English: If the flesh has a burn from fire in its skin, and the raw area of the burn becomes a bright reddish-white spot or white,

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:24

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for including a burn that has no remaining area into which it can spread.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
כִּי יִהְיֶה בְעוֹרוֹ. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא מִכְוָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ לְהֵיכָן שֶׁתִּפְשֶׂה; מִכְוָה שֶׁאֵין לָהּ לְהֵיכָן שֶׁתִפְשֶׂה מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר כִּי יִהְיֶה בְעוֹרוֹ אֲפִלּוּ בְכֻלּוֹ.

English: The rule includes a burn that has no remaining area into which it can spread, even when it covers the whole relevant area.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

Even when a burn covers the entire relevant area and cannot spread further, the verse’s wording includes it.