Derasha 6 on Metzora 15:18

Parashas Metzora · Passuk 15:18

The Complete Passuk

וְאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֥ב אִ֛ישׁ אֹתָ֖הּ שִׁכְבַת־זָ֑רַע וְרָחֲצ֣וּ בַמַּ֔יִם וְטָמְא֖וּ עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to Niddah 41b.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְרָחֲצוּ בַמַּיִם וְטָמְאוּ — אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: וְכִי מַה בָּא זֶה לְלַמְּדֵנוּ? אִם לְנוֹגֵעַ בְּשִׁכְבַת זֶרַע הֲרֵי כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר; אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁטֻּמְאַת בֵּית הַסְּתָרִים הִיא וּטֻמְאַת בֵּית הַסְּתָרִים אֵינָהּ מְטַמְּאָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁגְּזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב הוּא.

English: “And they shall wash in water and be impure” — R’ Shimon said: What does this come to teach? If regarding one who touches shichvas zera, that is already stated; rather, because it is impurity of a hidden place, and impurity of a hidden place does not ordinarily convey impurity — except that here it is a decree of Scripture.

Type of Learning

Scriptural exception for beis haseetarim

What Is Learned

Chazal explain that this verse specially imposes impurity despite contact occurring in a hidden place.