Derasha 233 on Vayikra 13:42

TT #233 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 42

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶ֤ה בַקָּרַ֨חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַגַּבַּ֔חַת נֶ֖גַע לָבָ֣ן אֲדַמְדָּ֑ם צָרַ֤עַת פֹּרַ֨חַת֙ הִ֔וא בְּקָרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֥וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

English: But if a white-reddish lesion appears on the bald area or the front bald area, it is an eruptive tzaraas on his bald area or front bald area.

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for distinguishing naturally occurring baldness from baldness caused by illness.

Source Links

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra (Toras Kohanim)
יכול אפילו נמרט ראשו מחמת חולי יהא טמא? תלמוד לומר קרחת וגבחת — מה קרחת בידי שמים אף גבחת בידי שמים.

English: The Sifra asks whether baldness caused by illness is included, and derives that the relevant baldness must be of the kind that occurs naturally.

Type of Learning

The baldness categories concern naturally occurring hair loss.

What Is Learned

The rule distinguishes naturally occurring baldness from hair loss caused by illness.