Derasha 1 on Metzora 15:13

Parashas Metzora · Passuk 15:13

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יִטְהַ֤ר הַזָּב֙ מִזּוֹב֔וֹ וְסָפַר֙ ל֔וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים לְטָהֳרָת֑וֹ וְכִבֶּס֙ בְּגָדָ֔יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בְּשָׂר֖וֹ בְּמַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים וְטָהֵֽר׃

Torah Temima points to Megillah 8a (verified on the daf).

Core Text

וְכִי יִטְהַר הַזָּב — מַהוּ וְכִי יִטְהַר הַזָּב? לְכְשֶׁיִּפְסֹק מִזִּיבָתוֹ.

English: “And when the zav becomes pure” — what is meant by “and when the zav becomes pure”? When he ceases from his flux.

Cessation of flux as start of purity process

Chazal read “yithar” here as the stopping of the flux, which begins the seven-day count, not as completed purity.