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Vayikra 13

13:40

וְאִישׁ כִּי יִמָּרֵט רֹאשׁוֹ קֵרֵחַ הוּא טָהוֹר הֽוּא׃

If a mans hair falls out, he is [merely] bald; he is clean.

If a mans hair falls out, he is [merely] bald; he is clean.

Rashi

קרח הוא טהור הוא. טָהוֹר מִטֻּמְאַת נְתָקִין, שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִדּוֹן בְּסִימָנֵי רֹאשׁ וְזָקָן שֶׁהֵם מְקוֹם שֵׂעָר, אֶלָּא בְסִימָנֵי נֶגַע עוֹר בָּשָׂר — (בְּשֵֹעָר לָבָן) וּמִחְיָה וּפִשְׂיוֹן (נגעים פ"י):

קרח הוא טהור הוא HE IS BALD, HE IS CLEAN — clean from the uncleanness of נתק (a scall in a hairy spot) (Sifra, Braita d'Rabbi Yishmael 15), for he is not subject to the law about the symptoms of the head or the beard, which are places where hair grows, but to that about the symptoms of a plague on the skin of the flesh — [white hair], healthy flesh or the spreading of the plague.

13:41

וְאִם מִפְּאַת פָּנָיו יִמָּרֵט רֹאשׁוֹ גִּבֵּחַ הוּא טָהוֹר הֽוּא׃

If, on the front of his head his hair falls out, he is [merely] frontally bald; he is clean.

If, on the front of his head his hair falls out, he is [merely] frontally bald; he is clean.

Rashi

ואם מפאת פניו. מִשִּׁפּוּעַ קָדְקֹד כְּלַפֵּי פָנָיו קָרוּי גַּבַּחַת — וְאַף הַצְּדָעִין שֶׁמִּכָּאן וּמִכָּאן בִּכְלָל — וּמִשִּׁפּוּעַ קָדְקֹד כְּלַפֵּי אֲחוֹרָיו קָרוּי קָרַחַת:

ואם מפאת בניו AND IF FROM THE CORNER OF HIS FACE [THERE FALLS OFF THE HAIR OF HIS HEAD] — The area from the slope of one’s skull in the direction of the face is called גבחת (and that explains why the man suffering from such a malady is here called גבח) — and the temples on both sides are also included; and the area from the slope of one’s skull in the direction of the back of his head is termed קרחת (hence the term קרח in v. 40) (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 10 7).

13:42

וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶה בַקָּרַחַת אוֹ בַגַּבַּחַת נֶגַע לָבָן אֲדַמְדָּם צָרַעַת פֹּרַחַת הִוא בְּקָרַחְתּוֹ אוֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

If there will be, in the baldness in back of the head or in the baldness in front of the head a white skin-eruption, tinged with red, it is tzoraas sprouting in his frontal baldness or in his posterior baldness.

If there will be, in the baldness in back of the head or in the baldness in front of the head a white skin-eruption, tinged with red, it is tzoraas sprouting in his frontal baldness or in his posterior baldness.

Rashi

נגע לבן אדמדם. פָּתוּךְ; מִנַּיִן שְׁאָר הַמַּרְאוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר נֶגַע:

נגע לבן אדמדם A RISING OF THE SORE REDDISH-WHITE — variegated (the term לבנה אדמדמת does not signify white and red each separately, but mingled: reddish-white). Whence may we learn that the plague is unclean too if it has the other colours (not variegated, but plain white shades of white which are the distinguishing characteristics of the plagues)? Because it states here: נגע, a plague (it describes it as a ‘‘plague” and therefore all colors applicable to a “plague” apply to it also).

13:43

וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה שְׂאֵת־הַנֶּגַע לְבָנָה אֲדַמְדֶּמֶת בְּקָרַחְתּוֹ אוֹ בְגַבַּחְתּוֹ כְּמַרְאֵה צָרַעַת עוֹר בָּשָֽׂר׃

The kohein shall see him, and behold! the spot of intense whiteness is tinged with red in his frontal baldness or in his posterior baldness just as the appearance tzoraas of the skin of the flesh.

The kohein shall see him, and behold! the spot of intense whiteness is tinged with red in his frontal baldness or in his posterior baldness just as the appearance tzoraas of the skin of the flesh.

Rashi

כמראה צרעת עור בשר. כְּמַרְאֵה הַצָּרַעַת הָאָמוּר בְּפָרָשַׁת "עוֹר בָּשָׂר" — אָדָם כִּי יִהְיֶה בְעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ, וּמָה אָמוּר בּוֹ? שֶׁמְּטַמֵּא בְאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת, וְנִדּוֹן בִּשְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת; וְלֹא כְמַרְאֵה צָרַעַת הָאָמוּר בִּשְׁחִין וּמִכְוָה שֶׁהוּא נִדּוֹן בְּשָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד, וְלֹא כְמַרְאֵה נְתָקִין שֶׁל מְקוֹם שֵׂעָר, שֶׁאֵין מְטַמְּאִין בְּאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת — שְׂאֵת וְתוֹלַדְתָּהּ, בַּהֶרֶת וְתוֹלַדְתָּהּ:

כמראה צרעת עור בשר AS THE COLOUR OF LEPROSY IN THE SKIN OF THE FLESH — it is like the colour of the leprosy which is mentioned in the section dealing with the plague on the skin of the flesh (v. 2): “When a man hath in the skin of his flesh …”.What is stated about that? That it makes one unclean by reason of four shades of white, and that it is subject to the law of quarantine during two weeks. And it is not to be treated like the colour of the leprosy mentioned in the case of the boil (v 18) or burn (v. 24) which though also unclean by reason of four shades of white are, however, subject to the law of quarantine for one week only, (i. e if at the end of the week there is neither white hair, nor has it spread the priest at once declares him clean); nor must it be treated as the colour of נתקין on a spot where hair grows — which do not make a person unclean by cause of four colours: a שאת and its subspecies, and that of a בהרת and its subspecies.

13:44

אִישׁ־צָרוּעַ הוּא טָמֵא הוּא טַמֵּא יְטַמְּאֶנּוּ הַכֹּהֵן בְּרֹאשׁוֹ נִגְעֽוֹ׃

He is a person with tzoraas, he is unclean. The kohein shall declare him unclean; his skin-eruption is on his head.

He is a person with tzoraas, he is unclean. The kohein shall declare him unclean; his skin-eruption is on his head.

Rashi

בראשו נגעו. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא נְתָקִין, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר הַמְנֻגָּעִים? תַּ"ל "טַמֵּא יְטַמְּאֶנּוּ", לְרַבּוֹת אֶת כֻּלָּן — עַל כֻּלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרֻמִים וְגוֹ':

בראשו נגעו HIS PLAGUE IS ON HIS HEAD — I have only a statement that the following laws apply to the case of נתקין, plagues on hairy places! Whence may we learn that there are included the sufferers from all other kinds of leprous plagues? Because it states מא יטמאנו‎ט, “he shall in any case proclaim him unclean” (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 12 2)— thus including all of these: regarding all of these it says: “his garments shall be rent etc.”.

13:45

וְהַצָּרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ הַנֶּגַע בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרֻמִים וְרֹאשׁוֹ יִהְיֶה פָרוּעַ וְעַל־שָׂפָם יַעְטֶה וְטָמֵא ׀ טָמֵא יִקְרָֽא׃

The tzorua—[the person] who has the skin-eruption—his garments shall have a tear in them, his hair shall be grown long, and he must cover his head down to his upper lip, and Unclean, unclean, shall he call out.

The tzorua—[the person] who has the skin-eruption—his garments shall have a tear in them, his hair shall be grown long, and he must cover his head down to his upper lip, and Unclean, unclean, shall he call out.

Rashi

פרמים. קְרוּעִים:

פרומים signifies TORN.

פרוע. מְגֻדַּל שֵׂעָר:

פרוע means his head shall be over-grown with hair (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 13 6).

ועל שפם יעטה. כְּאָבֵל:

ועל שפם יעטה AND HE SHALL COVER HIS LIPS as one who mourns for the dead (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 13 7; cf. Onkelos).

שפם. שְׂעַר הַשְּׂפָתַיִם, גרנו"ן בְּלַעַז:

שפם denotes the hair on the lips; grenon in old French, (English = moustache).

וטמא טמא יקרא. מַשְׁמִיעַ שֶׁהוּא טָמֵא וְיִפְרְשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ (ספרא, מועד קטן ה'):

וטמא טמא יקרא AND HE SHALL CALL OUT, UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN — he must proclaim aloud that he is unclean, so that people may keep away from him (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 13 7; Moed Katan 5a).

13:46

כׇּל־יְמֵי אֲשֶׁר הַנֶּגַע בּוֹ יִטְמָא טָמֵא הוּא בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב מִחוּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶה מוֹשָׁבֽוֹ׃ {ס}        

All the days in which the skin-eruption is on him he shall be unclean; he is unclean. He shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be beyond the encampment.

All the days in which the skin-eruption is on him he shall be unclean; he is unclean. He shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be beyond the encampment.

Rashi

בדד ישב. שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ טְמֵאִים יוֹשְׁבִין עִמּוֹ; וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה מִשְּׁאָר טְמֵאִים לֵישֵׁב בָּדָד? הוֹאִיל וְהוּא הִבְדִּיל בְּלָשׁוֹן הָרָע בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּבֵין אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ, אַף הוּא יִבָּדֵל (ערכין ט"ז):

בדד ישב HE SHALL ABIDE SOLITARY — This means that people who are unclean from other causes than that of leprosy shall not abide with him (Pesachim 67a; cf. Sifra). Our Rabbis said: Why is he (the leper) treated differently from other unclean persons that he should abide solitary? They replied: Because he, by slanderous statements, (cf. Numbers 12:10) parted man and wife, or a man from his friend, he must be parted from everybody (Arakhin 16b).

מחוץ למחנה. חוּץ לְשָׁלוֹשׁ מַחֲנוֹת:

מחוץ למחנה WITHOUT THE CAMP — outside the three camps (see Rashi on Leviticus 4:12; cf. Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 13 14 and Pesachim 67a).

13:47

וְהַבֶּגֶד כִּֽי־יִהְיֶה בוֹ נֶגַע צָרָעַת בְּבֶגֶד צֶמֶר אוֹ בְּבֶגֶד פִּשְׁתִּֽים׃

When in a garment there is a skin-eruption of tzoraas, whether a woolen garment or in a linen garment.

When in a garment there is a skin-eruption of tzoraas, whether a woolen garment or in a linen garment.

13:48

אוֹ בִֽשְׁתִי אוֹ בְעֵרֶב לַפִּשְׁתִּים וְלַצָּמֶר אוֹ בְעוֹר אוֹ בְּכׇל־מְלֶאכֶת עֽוֹר׃

Or if it is the warp [lengthwise] threads, or in the woof [widthwise] threads, in a linen garment, or a woolen garment, or on leather or in any object made of leather.

Or if it is the warp [lengthwise] threads, or in the woof [widthwise] threads, in a linen garment, or a woolen garment, or on leather or in any object made of leather.

Rashi

לפשתים ולצמר. שֶׁל פִּשְׁתִּים אוֹ שֶׁל צֶמֶר:

לפשתים ולצמר‎ means OF FLAX OR OF WOOL.

או בעור. זֶה עוֹר שֶׁלֹא נַעֲשָׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה:

או בעור WHETHER IN A SKIN — this is a skin which has not been manufactured (of which no article has been made).

או בכל מלאכת עור. זֶה עוֹר שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה:

או במלאכת עור OR IN ANYTHING MADE OF SKIN — this is a skin which has been manufactured.

13:49

וְהָיָה הַנֶּגַע יְרַקְרַק ׀ אוֹ אֲדַמְדָּם בַּבֶּגֶד אוֹ בָעוֹר אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִי אוֹ־בָעֵרֶב אוֹ בְכׇל־כְּלִי־עוֹר נֶגַע צָרַעַת הוּא וְהׇרְאָה אֶת־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

If the plague is deep green or deep red, in the garment, or in the leather hide or in the warp threads, or in the woof threads, or if it is in any object made of leather; it is the eruption of tzoraas and it shall be shown to the kohein.

If the plague is deep green or deep red, in the garment, or in the leather hide or in the warp threads, or in the woof threads, or if it is in any object made of leather; it is the eruption of tzoraas and it shall be shown to the kohein.

Rashi

ירקרק. יָרֹק שֶׁבַּיְרֻקִּין:

ירקרק denotes green amongst the greens (the deepest green).

אדמדם. אָדֹם שֶׁבָּאֲדֻמִּים:

אדמדם — the deepest red (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 14 2).

13:50

וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנָּגַע וְהִסְגִּיר אֶת־הַנֶּגַע שִׁבְעַת יָמִֽים׃

The kohein shall see the plague and confine the eruption, for seven days.

The kohein shall see the plague and confine the eruption, for seven days.

13:51

וְרָאָה אֶת־הַנֶּגַע בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי כִּֽי־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בַּבֶּגֶד אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִי אֽוֹ־בָעֵרֶב אוֹ בָעוֹר לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יֵעָשֶׂה הָעוֹר לִמְלָאכָה צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת הַנֶּגַע טָמֵא הֽוּא׃

He shall see the eruption on the seventh day. If the eruption has spread in the garment or in the warp thread, or in the woof thread, or in the leather hide, or in the work made of leather, it is a prickly tzoraas, it is unclean.

He shall see the eruption on the seventh day. If the eruption has spread in the garment or in the warp thread, or in the woof thread, or in the leather hide, or in the work made of leather, it is a prickly tzoraas, it is unclean.

Rashi

צרעת ממארת. לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: תֵּן בּוֹ מְאֵרָה שֶׁלֹא תֵהָנֶה הֵימֶנּוּ (ספרא):

צרעת ממארת A FRETTING LEPROSY — The word ממארת has the same meaning as. (Ezekiel 28:24) “a pricking (ממאיר) brier”; point (poignant) in old French The Midrashic explanation is: Attach a curse (מארה) to it, — that you will make no use of it (and therefore it must be burnt) (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 14 11).

13:52

וְשָׂרַף אֶת־הַבֶּגֶד אוֹ אֶֽת־הַשְּׁתִי ׀ אוֹ אֶת־הָעֵרֶב בַּצֶּמֶר אוֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּים אוֹ אֶת־כׇּל־כְּלִי הָעוֹר אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶה בוֹ הַנָּגַע כִּֽי־צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת הִוא בָּאֵשׁ תִּשָּׂרֵֽף׃

He shall burn the garment, or the warp [lengthwise] threads, or the woof [widthwise] threads, be it in wool or in linen, or in all leather made objects, in which there is the eruption. For it is a prickly tzoraas. It shall be burned in fire.

He shall burn the garment, or the warp [lengthwise] threads, or the woof [widthwise] threads, be it in wool or in linen, or in all leather made objects, in which there is the eruption. For it is a prickly tzoraas. It shall be burned in fire.

Rashi

בצמר או בפשתים. שֶׁל צֶמֶר אוֹ שֶׁל פִּשְׁתִּים, זֶהוּ פְשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: יָכוֹל יָבִיא גִּזֵּי צֶמֶר וַאֲנִיצֵי פִשְׁתָּן וְיִשְׂרְפֵם עִמּוֹ? תַּ"ל "הוּא" באש תשרף — אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה דָבָר אַחֵר עִמָּהּ, אִם כֵּן מַה תַּ"ל "בַּצֶּמֶר אוֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּים"? לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הָאֻמְרִיּוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ שֶׁהֵן מִמִּין אַחֵר; אֻמְרִיּוֹת לְשׁוֹן שָׂפָה, כְּמוֹ אִימְרָא (ספרא):

בצמר ובפשתים means OF WOOL OR OF FLAX. This is the plain meaning. And the Midrashic explanation is: One might think that he must bring fleeces of wool or stalks of flax and burn them together with it, (the garment, in order to make a flame in which to burn it; then the verse will mean: he shall burn the garment with wool etc.) Scripture, however, states, in this verse, היא באש תשרף “it (the garment) shall be burnt in fire” — no other thing being required with it. If this be so why does it state בצמר או בפשתים? To exclude from being burnt the אומריות, the hems, that are on it if these are made of a different material than wool or flax respectively. The word אומריות means a hem; it is the same as the better-known word אימרא. (The translation is therefore: he shall burn [apply fire to] the garment etc., on the woolen parts only) (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 15 1).

13:53

וְאִם יִרְאֶה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה לֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בַּבֶּגֶד אוֹ בַשְּׁתִי אוֹ בָעֵרֶב אוֹ בְּכׇל־כְּלִי־עֽוֹר׃

If the kohein will see, and behold! the eruption did not spread in the garment, or in the warp threads, or in the woof threads, or in any leather made object.

If the kohein will see, and behold! the eruption did not spread in the garment, or in the warp threads, or in the woof threads, or in any leather made object.

13:54

וְצִוָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְכִבְּסוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ הַנָּגַע וְהִסְגִּירוֹ שִׁבְעַת־יָמִים שֵׁנִֽית׃

The kohein shall command that they shall wash the article having the eruption, and confine it for seven days, a second time.

The kohein shall command that they shall wash the article having the eruption, and confine it for seven days, a second time.

Rashi

את אשר בו הנגע. יָכוֹל מְקוֹם הַנֶּגַע בִּלְבַד, תַּ"ל "אֵת אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ הַנָּגַע", יָכוֹל כָּל הַבֶּגֶד כֻּלּוֹ טָעוּן כִּבּוּס, תַּ"ל "הַנָּגַע", הָא כֵיצַד? יְכַבֵּס מִן הַבֶּגֶד עִמּוֹ:

את אשר בו הנגע THAT WHEREIN THE PLAGUE IS — One might think that he has to wash only that spot in which is the plague and not the garment itself! It. however, states: Not, “he shall wash the plague, but “that where in the plague is”. If this be so, then one might think that the entire garment requires washing! It, however, states, (v. 55) הנגע “the plague” (after the plague has been washed), and not the garment. How shall it be done? He washes some of the garment with it (the plague) (Sifra, Tazria Parashat Nega'im, Chapter 15 5).

Texts

  • Hebrew: Miqra according to the Masorah · License: CC-BY-SA
  • English: Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 · License: CC-BY
  • Hebrew: Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934 · License: PD
  • English: Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934 · License: PD

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