Derasha 224 on Vayikra 13:40

TT #224 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 40

The Complete Passuk

וְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ קֵרֵ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא׃

English: If a man’s head becomes bald, he is bald; he is pure.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:40

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the rule for a netek when the whole head later becomes bald.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra (Toras Kohanim)
מנין אתה אומר היה בו נתק כגריס וניתק כל ראשו טהור? תלמוד לומר "ואיש כי ימרט ראשו קרח הוא".

English: If a netek the size of a gris was present and the entire head later became bald, the verse teaches that the person is clean under the netek rule.

Type of Learning

Complete baldness changes the diagnostic framework for a former netek.

What Is Learned

Once the entire head becomes bald, the Sifra applies the bald-head rule and the earlier netek no longer makes the person impure under this rule.