## Mishnah Bekhorot Chapter 7

###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:1
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:1)

מוּמִין אֵלּוּ, בֵּין קְבוּעִין בֵּין עוֹבְרִין, פּוֹסְלִין בָּאָדָם. יוֹתֵר עֲלֵיהֶן בָּאָדָם, הַכִּילוֹן, וְהַלַּפְתָּן, הַמַּקָּבָן, וְשֶׁרֹאשׁוֹ שָׁקוּעַ, וּשְׁקִיפָס. וּבַעֲלֵי הַחֲטוֹטֶרֶת, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מַכְשִׁיר, וַחֲכָמִים פּוֹסְלִין:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Concerning **these blemishes** which were taught with regard to an animal, **whether** they are **permanent or transient, they** also **disqualify in** the case of **a person,** i.e., they disqualify a priest from performing the Temple service. **And in addition to those** blemishes, there are other blemishes that apply only to a priest: **One whose** head **is pointed,** narrow above and wide below; **and one whose** head **is turnip-like,** wide above and narrow below; **and one whose** head **is hammer-like,** with his forehead protruding; **and** one **whose head** has **an indentation; and** one **wherein the back of his head protrudes.** **And** with regard to **those with humped** backs, **Rabbi Yehuda deems** them **fit** for service **and the Rabbis deem** them **disqualified.**


###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:2
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:2)

הַקֵּרֵחַ, פָּסוּל. אֵיזֶהוּ קֵרֵחַ, כֹּל שֶׁאֵין לוֹ שִׁטָּה שֶׁל שֵׂעָר מַקֶּפֶת מֵאֹזֶן לְאֹזֶן. וְאִם יֵשׁ לוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר. אֵין לוֹ גְבִּינִים, אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא גְבִין אֶחָד, הוּא גִבֵּן הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה. רַבִּי דוֹסָא אוֹמֵר, כֹּל שֶׁגְּבִּינָיו שׁוֹכְבִין. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר, כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁנֵי גַבִּים וּשְׁתֵּי שִׁדְרָאוֹת:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The *kere’aḥ* is disqualified** from performing the Temple service. **What is a *kere’aḥ*?** It is **anyone who does not have a row of hair encircling** his head **from ear to ear. If he has** a row of hair from ear to ear, **that** person is **fit** for service. If a priest **has no eyebrows, or** if **he has only one eyebrow, that is the *gibben* that is stated in the Torah** in the list of blemished priests (see Leviticus 21:20). **Rabbi Dosa says:** A *gibben* is one **whose eyebrows** are so long that they **lie** flat and cover his eyes. **Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says:** A *gibben* is one **who has two backs and two spines.**


###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:3
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:3)

הֶחָרוּם, פָּסוּל. אֵיזֶהוּ חָרוּם, הַכּוֹחֵל שְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו כְּאֶחָת. שְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו לְמַעְלָה, וּשְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו לְמַטָּה, עֵינוֹ אַחַת לְמַעְלָה, וְעֵינוֹ אַחַת לְמַטָּה, רוֹאֶה אֶת הַחֶדֶר וְאֶת הָעֲלִיָּה כְּאֶחָת, סָכֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ, זוּגְדוֹס, וְהַצִּירָן. וְשֶׁנָּשְׁרוּ רִיסֵי עֵינָיו, פָּסוּל, מִפְּנֵי מַרְאִית הָעָיִן:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The *ḥarum* is disqualified** from performing the Temple service. **What is a *ḥarum*?** It is **one who** can **paint both of his eyes as one,** with one brushstroke, because he has a sunken nose. If **both of one’s eyes** are **above or both of his eyes** are **below;** or if **one of his eyes** is **above and one of his eyes** is **below;** or if both eyes are in the proper place but **he sees** both **the room** on the ground floor **and the upper story as one,** at the same time; and likewise those unable to **look at the sun; and one whose eyes are different; and one whose eyes tear constantly,** these are disqualified from performing the Temple service. **And one whose eyelashes have fallen out** is **disqualified** from performing the Temple service **due to the appearance** of a blemish. Unlike the others listed in this mishna, who are disqualified by Torah law, one with this condition is not disqualified by Torah law. Rather, the Sages issued a decree prohibiting a priest with such a condition to perform the Temple service.


###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:4
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:4)

עֵינָיו גְּדוֹלוֹת כְּשֶׁל עֵגֶל, אוֹ קְטַנּוֹת כְּשֶׁל אַוָּז, גּוּפוֹ גָּדוֹל מֵאֵבָרָיו אוֹ קָטָן מֵאֵבָרָיו, חָטְמוֹ גָּדוֹל מֵאֵבָרָיו אוֹ קָטָן מֵאֵבָרָיו, הַצִּמֵּם, וְהַצִּמֵּעַ. אֵיזֶה הוּא צִמֵּעַ, שֶׁאָזְנָיו קְטַנּוֹת. וְהַצִּמֵּם, שֶׁאָזְנָיו דּוֹמוֹת לִסְפוֹג:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna lists additional blemishes that disqualify a priest from performing the Temple service: If a priest’s **eyes are large like those of a calf or small like those of a goose;** if **his body is** disproportionately **large** relative **to his limbs or** disproportionately **small** relative **to his limbs;** if **his nose is** disproportionately **large** relative **to his limbs or** disproportionately **small** relative **to his limbs,** he is disqualified. And **the *tzomem* and the *tzome’a*** are also disqualified. **What is a *tzome’a*?** It is **anyone whose ears are small. And** what is **the *tzomem*?** It is **anyone whose ears are similar to a sponge.**


###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:5
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:5)

שְׂפָתוֹ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה עוֹדֶפֶת עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה, וְהַתַּחְתּוֹנָה עוֹדֶפֶת עַל הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, הֲרֵי זֶה מוּם. וְשֶׁנִּטְּלוּ שִׁנָּיו, פָּסוּל, מִפְּנֵי מַרְאִית הָעָיִן. דַּדָּיו שׁוֹכְבִים כְּשֶׁל אִשָּׁה, כְּרֵסוֹ צָבָה, טַבּוּרוֹ יוֹצֵא, נִכְפֶּה אֲפִלּוּ אַחַת לְיָמִים, רוּחַ קַצְרִית בָּאָה עָלָיו, הַמְאֻשְׁכָּן, וּבַעַל גֶּבֶר. אֵין לוֹ בֵיצִים, אוֹ אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא בֵיצָה אַחַת, זֶהוּ מְרוֹחַ אָשֶׁךְ הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר, כּל שֶׁנִּמְרְחוּ אֲשָׁכָיו. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, כּל שֶׁרוּחַ בַּאֲשָׁכָיו. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר, כֹּל שֶׁמַּרְאָיו חֲשׁוּכִין:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If **his upper lip protrudes beyond the lower** lip or his **lower** lip **protrudes beyond the upper** lip, **that is a blemish. And one whose teeth fell out is disqualified due to the appearance** of a blemish. The mishna lists additional blemishes that disqualify a priest from performing the Temple service: One who has **breasts** so large that they **sag like** those **of a woman;** or if **one’s belly is swollen** and protrudes; or if **one’s navel protrudes;** or if one is **an epileptic, even** if he experiences seizures only **once in** a long **while;** or one **who is afflicted with a melancholy temper;** or **one whose scrotum is** unnaturally **long; or one whose penis is** unnaturally **long** is disqualified from performing the Temple service. If **one has no testicles, or** if **he has only one testicle, that is** the ***mero’aḥ ashekh* that is stated in the Torah** (see Leviticus 21:20) among the blemishes that disqualify a priest from Temple service. **Rabbi Yishmael says:** A *mero’aḥ ashekh* is **anyone whose testicles were crushed. Rabbi Akiva says:** It is **anyone that** has **wind in his testicles,** i.e., they are swollen. **Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says:** *Mero’aḥ ashekh* does not refer to the testicles; rather, the reference is to **anyone whose appearance [*marav*] is** especially **dark [*ḥashukhin*].**


###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:6
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:6)

הַמַּקִּישׁ בְּקַרְסֻלָּיו, וּבְאַרְכּוּבוֹתָיו, וּבַעַל פִּיקָה, וְהָעִקֵּל. אֵיזֶהוּ עִקֵּל, כֹּל שֶׁמַּקִּיף פַּרְסוֹתָיו וְאֵין אַרְכּוּבוֹתָיו נוֹשְׁקוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ. פִּיקָה יוֹצְאָה מִגּוּדָלוֹ, עֲקֵבוֹ יוֹצֵא לַאֲחוֹרָיו, פַּרְסָתוֹ רְחָבָה כְּשֶׁל אַוָּז. אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו מֻרְכָּבוֹת זוֹ עַל זוֹ, אוֹ קְלוּטוֹת (לְמַעְלָה) עַד הַפֶּרֶק, כָּשֵׁר. לְמַטָּה מִן הַפֶּרֶק וַחֲתָכָהּ, כָּשֵׁר. הָיְתָה בוֹ יְתֶרֶת וַחֲתָכָהּ, אִם יֵשׁ בָּהּ עֶצֶם, פָּסוּל. וְאִם לָאו, כָּשֵׁר. יָתֵר בְּיָדָיו וּבְרַגְלָיו שֵׁשׁ וָשֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מַכְשִׁיר, וַחֲכָמִים פּוֹסְלִים. הַשּׁוֹלֵט בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו, רַבִּי פּוֹסֵל, וַחֲכָמִים מַכְשִׁירִים. הַכּוּשִׁי, וְהַגִּיחוֹר, וְהַלַּבְקָן, וְהַקִּפֵּחַ, וְהַנַּנָּס, וְהַחֵרֵשׁ, וְהַשּׁוֹטֶה, וְהַשִּׁכּוֹר, וּבַעֲלֵי נְגָעִים טְהוֹרִין, פְּסוּלִין בָּאָדָם, וּכְשֵׁרִין בַּבְּהֵמָה. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, שׁוֹטָה בַבְּהֵמָה אֵינָהּ מִן הַמֻּבְחָר, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, אַף בַּעֲלֵי דִלְדּוּלִין, פְּסוּלִין בָּאָדָם, וּכְשֵׁרִין בַּבְּהֵמָה:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna lists additional blemishes that disqualify a priest from performing the Temple service: One whose legs are crooked and bend inward, causing him to **knock his ankles or his knees** into each other as he walks, **and a *ba’al happikim*,** and **the *ikkel*. What is the *ikkel*?** It is **anyone who places his feet together and his knees do not knock into each other,** i.e., he is bowlegged. A priest with **a protuberance emerging** alongside **the thumb of his** hand or the big toe of his foot,or one **whose heel emerges** and protrudes **back** from **his** foot, or one **whose feet are wide like** those **of a goose** are all disqualified from performing the Temple service. A priest **whose fingers** or toes **are configured one upon the other, or** one whose fingers or toes are **attached,** is likewise disqualified. But if they were attached from **above** the palm of the hand or the bottom of the foot only **until the** middle **joint,** he is **fit.** If they were attached **below the joint,** higher up on the finger or toe, **and he cut** to separate them, he is **fit.** In a case where **there was an extra** finger or toe **on** his hand or foot **and he cut it, if** that extra appendage **contains a bone,** the priest is **disqualified** even after it was cut, **and if** there is **no** bone the priest is **fit.** If there was **an extra** appendage **on his hands and on his feet, six on each** for a total of **twenty-four, Rabbi Yehuda deems** the priest **fit and the Rabbis deem** him **disqualified.** With regard to one **who** is ambidextrous and **has control of both of his hands, Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi **deems** the priest **disqualified,** as his halakhic status is like that of one who is left-handed, **and the Rabbis deem** him **fit.** Concerning **the *kushi*, the *giḥor*, the *lavkan*, the *kipe’aḥ*, the dwarf, the deaf-mute, the imbecile, the drunk, and** those **with ritually pure marks,** their conditions **disqualify a person** from performing the Temple service **and are valid,** i.e., they do not disqualify with regard to being sacrificed, **in** the case of **an animal. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: An imbecile among animals is not optimal** for sacrifice. **Rabbi Elazar says: Even** with regard to those **with** flesh or skin that **hangs** from their body, that blemish **disqualifies in** the case of **a person and is valid in** the case of **an animal.**


###### Mishnah Bekhorot 7:7
[Mishnah Bekhorot 7:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishnah%20Bekhorot/r/7:7)

אֵלּוּ כְּשֵׁרִין בָּאָדָם, וּפְסוּלִין בַּבְּהֵמָה, אוֹתוֹ וְאֶת בְּנוֹ, וּטְרֵפָה, וְיוֹצֵא דֹפֶן, (וְשֶׁנֶּעֶבְדָה בָהֶן עֲבֵרָה, וְשֶׁהֵמִית אֶת הָאָדָם). הַנּוֹשֵׂא נָשִׁים בַּעֲבֵרָה, פָּסוּל, עַד שֶׁיַּדִּיר הֲנָיָה. הַמִּטַּמֵּא לַמֵּתִים, פָּסוּל, עַד שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא מִטַּמֵּא לַמֵּתִים:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**These** flaws **do not disqualify a person** from performing the Temple service, **but** they do **disqualify an animal** from being sacrificed: An animal whose mother or offspring were slaughtered that day, as slaughtering it would violate the prohibition against slaughtering the animal **itself and its offspring** on the same day; **a *tereifa*;** one **born by caesarean section;** one **with which a transgression** of bestiality **was performed; and one that killed a person.** **And** a priest **who marries women by a transgression,** e.g., a divorcée or a woman who underwent *ḥalitza*, is **disqualified** from performing the Temple service **until he vows** not to derive **benefit from her.** The vow ensures that he will divorce her promptly. **And** a priest **who becomes impure** through exposure **to corpses** is **disqualified** from performing the Temple service **until he accepts upon himself** a commitment **that he will no** longer **become impure** through exposure **to corpses.**