Derasha 171 on Vayikra 13:24

TT #171 · 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 mixed configurations of burn and bright spot.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
כי יהיה בעורו. אין לי אלא בזמן שמקצתה מכוה ומקצתה בהרת, מקצתה מכוה וכולה בהרת, מקצתה בהרת וכולה מכוה, כולה מכוה וכולה בהרת מנין? תלמוד לומר בעורו בעורו ריבה.

English: “When it is in his skin”—I know only a case where part is a burn and part a baheres. What about part burn with baheres over the whole area, part baheres with burn over the whole area, or burn and baheres each covering the whole area? Scripture repeats “in his skin” to include all these combinations.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The Sifra includes all four combinations of burn and baheres: each may occupy part of the affected area, or one may cover the whole area while the other occupies part.