Derasha 196 on Vayikra 13:31

TT #196 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 31

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יִרְאֶ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־נֶ֣גַע הַנֶּ֗תֶק וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵין־מַרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־הָע֔וֹר וְשֵׂעָ֥ר שָׁחֹ֖ר אֵ֣ין בּ֑וֹ וְהִסְגִּ֧יר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־נֶ֥גַע הַנֶּ֖תֶק שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃

English: If the priest examines the netek and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, he shall isolate the netek for seven days.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:31

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the minimum gris measure for a netek.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
נֶגַע הַנֶּתֶק. מַה נֶּגַע אֵינוֹ פָחוֹת מִכְּגְרִיס אַף נֶתֶק כַּגְּרִיס.

English: Just as an ordinary skin lesion must meet the minimum measure called a gris, a netek must meet that same minimum measure.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The Sifra applies the standard minimum halakhic measure—a gris—to a netek as well as to an ordinary skin lesion.