Derasha 311 on Vayikra 13:59

TT #311 · 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 ordinary rule that the same priest handles both rulings, with succession if he dies.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra (Toras Kohanim)
תניא, הכהן שמטהרו הוא מטמאו, ואם מת רואהו כהן אחר.

English: The priest who declares the article pure is also the one who can declare it impure; if he dies, another priest examines it.

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The priest who examines and declares the article pure is ordinarily the one who later declares it impure if the condition requires that ruling. If he dies before then, another priest may examine it.