Derasha 1 on Metzora 14:54

Parashas Metzora · Passuk 14:54

The Complete Passuk

זֹ֖את הַתּוֹרָ֑ה לְכׇל־נֶ֥גַע הַצָּרַ֖עַת וְלַנָּֽתֶק׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to Toras Kohanim.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה לְכָל־נֶגַע הַצָּרַעַת וְלַנָּתֶק וּלְצָרַעַת הַבֶּגֶד וְלַבָּיִת — מִנַּיִן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֹּהֵן שֶׁבָּקִי בִּנְגָעִים וְלֹא בִּנְתָקִים, בִּנְתָקִים וְלֹא בְּקָרַחַת, בְּנִגְעֵי אָדָם וְלֹא בְּנִגְעֵי בְגָדִים, בְּנִגְעֵי בְגָדִים וְלֹא בְּנִגְעֵי בָתִּים, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאֶה אֶת הַנְּגָעִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה לְכָל־נֶגַע הַצָּרַעַת.

English: “This is the Torah for every plague of tzaraas and for the nesek …” — from where do you say that a kohen who is expert in negaim but not in netakim, in netakim but not in bald-spot [afflictions], in human negaim but not in garment negaim, in garment negaim but not in house negaim, may not inspect the negaim? Scripture teaches: “This is the Torah for every plague of tzaraas.”

Type of Learning

Comprehensive expertise required of the kohen

What Is Learned

Chazal require that the inspecting kohen be fully trained in all categories of negaim; partial expertise is insufficient to authorize him to rule.