Derasha 212 on Vayikra 13:37

TT #212 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 37

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־בְּעֵינָיו֩ עָמַ֨ד הַנֶּ֜תֶק וְשֵׂעָ֨ר שָׁחֹ֧ר צָֽמַח־בּ֛וֹ נִרְפָּ֥א הַנֶּ֖תֶק טָה֣וֹר ה֑וּא וְטִהֲר֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ ס

English: If the netek remains unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the netek is healed; he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:37

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the wording that describes the netek as remaining unchanged.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
וְאִם בְּעֵינָיו עָמַד. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בְּעֵינֵי עַצְמוֹ, בְּעֵינֵי בְנוֹ, בְּעֵינֵי תַלְמִידוֹ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְאִם בְּעֵינָיו עָמַד הַנֶּתֶק.

English: “If it remained in his eyes”—this could refer only to the priest’s own assessment. How do we know the rule also applies when the netek appears unchanged to the priest’s son or student? The verse says, “If the netek remained in his eyes,” extending the rule beyond the priest’s own assessment.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The wording “in his eyes” is interpreted broadly enough to include the assessment of the person’s son or student, not only the afflicted person’s own view of the lesion.