Derasha 6 on Metzora 14:04

Parashas Metzora · Passuk 14:04

The Complete Passuk

וְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלָקַ֧ח לַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר שְׁתֵּֽי־צִפֳּרִ֥ים חַיּ֖וֹת טְהֹר֑וֹת וְעֵ֣ץ אֶ֔רֶז וּשְׁנִ֥י תוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֵזֹֽב׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to Toras Kohanim.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְעֵץ אֶרֶז — אִי עֵץ יָכוֹל כָּל עֵץ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר אֶרֶז; אִי אֶרֶז יָכוֹל טָרָף, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְעֵץ — בְּקַעַת שֶׁל אֶרֶז.

English: “And cedar wood” — if it said only “wood,” any wood would suffice; therefore it says “cedar.” If it said only “cedar,” a whole leafy branch might be meant; therefore it says “and wood” — a split piece of cedar.

Type of Learning

Mi’ut / ribui pair

What Is Learned

Chazal define the required wood as a split piece of cedar, neither any other wood nor a leafy cedar branch.