Derasha 309 on Vayikra 13:59

TT #309 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 59

The Complete Passuk

זֹ֠את תּוֹרַ֨ת נֶֽגַע־צָרַ֜עַת בֶּ֥גֶד הַצֶּ֣מֶר א֣וֹ הַפִּשְׁתִּ֗ים א֤וֹ הַשְּׁתִי֙ א֣וֹ הָעֵ֔רֶב א֖וֹ כָל־כְּלִ֣י־עוֹר לְטַֽהֲר֖וֹ א֥וֹ לְטַמְּאֽוֹ׃

English: This is the law of the lesion of tzaraas in a garment of wool or linen, in warp or woof, or in any leather article, to declare it clean or impure.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:59

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the duty to state the correct ruling whether it establishes purity or impurity.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra (Toras Kohanim)
לטהרו או לטמאו. מכאן שכשם שמצוה לטהרו כך מצוה לטמאו.

English: The phrase teaches that just as it is a mitzvah to declare an article pure, it is also a mitzvah to declare it impure when required.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The priest has a duty to issue the ruling the evidence requires in either direction: declaring an article pure when appropriate and impure when appropriate.