Chukas 19:04 · unit 1 — even an ordinary Kohen is valid

Parashas Chukas · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 4

The Complete Passuk

וְלָקַ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מִדָּמָ֖הּ בְּאֶצְבָּע֑וֹ וְהִזָּ֞ה אֶל־נֹ֨כַח פְּנֵ֧י אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֛ד מִדָּמָ֖הּ שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים׃

And Elazar the Kohen shall take of its blood with his finger and sprinkle toward the front of the Tent of Meeting of its blood seven times.

Chabad.org — 19:4

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Yoma 43b — “Elazar the Kohen” — two exclusions; one exclusion after another comes only to include — that even an ordinary Kohen is valid.

Sefaria — Yoma 43b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן, שְׁנֵי מִעוּטִים, וַהֲוֵי מִעוּט אַחַר מִעוּט וְאֵין מִעוּט אַחַר מִעוּט אֶלָּא לְרַבּוֹת – דַּאֲפִלּוּ כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט כָּשֵׁר.

English: “Elazar the Kohen” — two exclusions; one exclusion after another comes only to include — that even an ordinary Kohen is valid.

Type of Learning

Mi’ut achar mi’ut coming to include.

What Is Learned

Although the verse names Elazar, the double exclusion teaches that for generations any ordinary Kohen may take the blood and sprinkle it.