Derasha 191 on Vayikra 13:30

TT #191 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 30

The Complete Passuk

וְרָאָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֗גַע וְהִנֵּ֤ה מַרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־הָע֔וֹר וּב֛וֹ שֵׂעָ֥ר צָהֹ֖ב דָּ֑ק וְטִמֵּ֨א אֹת֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ נֶ֣תֶק ה֔וּא צָרַ֧עַת הָרֹ֛אשׁ א֥וֹ הַזָּקָ֖ן הֽוּא׃

English: the priest shall examine the affliction. If its appearance is deeper than the skin and it contains thin yellow hair, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a netek, tzaraas of the head or beard.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:30

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the requirement for yellow hair rather than another color.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
שֵׂעָר צָהֹב. צָהֹב — וְלֹא יָרוֹק וְלֹא אָדֹם וְלֹא לָבָן.

English: 'Yellow hair' means yellow, not green, red, or white.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

For this sign of a netek, yellow hair is the required color; green, red, and white hair do not satisfy the stated criterion.