## Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy Chapter 1

###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:1
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:1)

צָרַעַת עוֹר הַבָּשָׂר הוּא שֶׁיַּלְבִּין מָקוֹם מִן הָעוֹר וְתִהְיֶה הַלַּבְנוּנִית כִּקְרוּם בֵּיצָה וּמִקְּרוּם בֵּיצָה וּלְמַעְלָה. אֲבָל לַבְנוּנִית שֶׁהִיא דִּהָה מִקְּרוּם הַבֵּיצָה וּלְמַטָּה אֵינָהּ צָרַעַת אֶלָּא בֹּהַק הוּא:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
When there is a *tzara'at* affliction of human skin, the skin turns white, becoming as white as the membrane of an egg or whiter. Whiteness that is not as white as this membrane is not deemed *tzara'at*, but is instead a *bohak*.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:2
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:2)

וְאַרְבָּעָה מַרְאוֹת יֵשׁ בְּצָרַעַת עוֹר הַבָּשָׂר. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. לֹבֶן עַז בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁאֵין לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁהוּא נִרְאֶה בְּעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר כְּשֶׁלֶג הוּא הַנִּקְרָא בַּהֶרֶת. וְלֹבֶן שֶׁהוּא דִּהָה מִזֶּה מְעַט שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כְּצֶמֶר נָקִי שֶׁל כֶּבֶשׂ בֶּן יוֹמוֹ הוּא הַנִּקְרָא שְׂאֵת. וְלָבָן שֶׁדִּהָה מִן הַשְּׂאֵת מְעַט שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כְּסִיד הַהֵיכָל הוּא תּוֹלֶדֶת הַבַּהֶרֶת וְנִקְרֵאת סַפַּחַת. וְלֹבֶן שֶׁדִּהָה מִסִּיד הַהֵיכָל מְעַט וַהֲרֵי הוּא כִּקְרוּם בֵּיצָה הִיא תּוֹלֶדֶת הַשְּׂאֵת וְגַם זֶה נִקְרָא סַפַּחַת. הִנֵּה לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהַמַּרְאֶה שֶׁהוּא כְּסִיד הַהֵיכָל הוּא סַפַּחַת הַבַּהֶרֶת. וְהַמַּרְאֶה שֶׁהוּא כִּקְרוּם בֵּיצָה הִיא סַפַּחַת הַשְּׂאֵת. שֶׁאֵין לְשׁוֹן סַפַּחַת אֶלָּא טְפֵלָה. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ מַרְאוֹת נְגָעִים שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע בַּהֶרֶת וְסַפַּחְתָּהּ שְׂאֵת וְסַפַּחְתָּהּ:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
There are four shades of white that appear on human skin that cause a person to be deemed afflicted by *tzara'at*:
a) very intense white that resembles snow on human skin; it is called *baheret*.
b) a white that is slightly darker than that; it resembles the cleaned wool of a newborn sheep; it is called *si'ait*;
c) a white that is slightly darker than *si'ait*; it resembles the lime of the Temple building; it is a derivative of the *baheret* and is called *sapachat*;
d) a white that is slightly darker than the lime of the Temple building and which resembles the membrane of an egg; it is a derivative of the *si'ait* and is also called *sapachat*.
Thus one has learnt that the shade that is like the lime of the Temple building is a *sapachat* of the *baheret* and the shade that is like the membrane of an egg is a *sapachat* of the *si'ait*. For the meaning of the term *sapachat* is subsidiary. Based on the above, our Sages said: "The shades of *tzara'at* blemishes are two which are four:" *baheret* and its subsidiary and *si'ait* and its subsidiary.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:3
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:3)

אַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת נְגָעִים אֵלּוּ כֻּלָּן מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה בֵּין לְהָקֵל בֵּין לְהַחְמִיר. בֵּין בִּתְחִלַּת רְאִיַּת הַנֶּגַע בֵּין בְּסוֹף הַשִּׁבְעָה. בֵּין לְאַחַר שֶׁנִּפְטַר הַמְצֹרָע אוֹ נֶחְלַט. כֵּיצַד. אֶחָד נֶגַע שֶׁהָיָה כֻּלּוֹ לָבָן כַּשֶּׁלֶג אוֹ כְּסִיד הַהֵיכָל אוֹ כְּצֶמֶר נָקִי אוֹ כִּקְרוּם בֵּיצָה. וְאֶחָד נֶגַע שֶׁהָיָה מִקְצָת הַלֹּבֶן כְּמַרְאֵה הַבַּהֶרֶת וּמִקְצָתוֹ כְּמַרְאֵה הַשְּׂאֵת וּמִקְצָתוֹ כְּמַרְאֵה הַסַּפַּחַת. הַכּל כְּמַרְאֶה אֶחָד הוּא חָשׁוּב. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה מְנָאוּם חֲכָמִים וְאָמְרוּ מַרְאוֹת נְגָעִים שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע כְּדֵי לְהָבִין בְּמַרְאוֹת. שֶׁכָּל כֹּהֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַכִּיר הַמַּרְאוֹת וּשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶן כְּשֶׁמְּלַמְּדִין אוֹתוֹ וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ לֹא יִרְאֶה הַנֶּגַע עַד שֶׁיָּבִין וְיַכִּיר וְיֹאמַר זוֹ הִיא הַבַּהֶרֶת וְזוֹ הִיא סַפַּחְתָּהּ זוֹ הִיא הַשְּׂאֵת וְזוֹ הִיא סַפַּחְתָּהּ:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
These four shades of *tzara'at* blemishes can all be joined with each other and are considered as a single blemish, whether this produces a more lenient ruling or a more stringent ruling, whether at the beginning of the observation of the blemish or at the conclusion of the seven days, whether after the person afflicted with *tzara'at* was released from impurity or definitely categorized as afflicted.
What is implied? Whether a blemish is entirely white like snow or like the lime of the Temple building or like clean wool or like the membrane of an egg or a blemish was varied in appearance, part of its whiteness was the shade of *baheret* and part was like the shade of *si'ait*, and part like the shade of *sapachat*, they are all considered as one appearance.
If so, why did the Sages count them and say, "The shades of *tzara'at* blemishes are two which are four?" So that one will understand the different appearances. For any priest who does not recognize the different appearances and their names when he is taught and informed, should not assess a blemish until he understands them and recognizes them and can say: "This is *baheret* and this is its subsidiary. This is *si'ait* and this is its subsidiary."


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:4
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:4)

הָיָה בְּמַרְאֵה הַלֹּבֶן מֵאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת אֵלּוּ מִקְצָת אַדְמוּמִיּוֹת מְעֹרָבוֹת בּוֹ. גַּם זֶה נֶגַע צָרַעַת הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג יט) "אוֹ בַהֶרֶת לְבָנָה אֲדַמְדָּמֶת". וְהוּא הַדִּין לִשְׂאֵת וּלְסַפַּחַת שֶׁל שְׂאֵת וּלְסַפַּחַת הַבַּהֶרֶת. וְהַמַּרְאֶה הַזֶּה שֶׁהוּא מְעֹרָב מִלַּבְנוּנִית וּמְעַט אֹדֶם הוּא הַנִּקְרָא פָּתוּךְ. וְכֵיצַד מַרְאֵה הַפָּתוּךְ בְּאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת אֵלּוּ. כְּאִלּוּ הֵן אַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת מְלֵאוֹת חָלָב וְנִתְעָרֵב בַּכּוֹס הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שְׁנֵי טִפֵּי דָּם וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה אַרְבָּעָה טִפִּין וּבַשְּׁלִישִׁית שְׁמוֹנֶה טִפִּין וּבָרְבִיעִית שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר טִפִּין. הַפָּתוּךְ שֶׁבַּבַּהֶרֶת הוּא הַמַּרְאֶה הָרְבִיעִי וְהַפָּתוּךְ שֶׁבַּשְּׂאֵת כְּמַרְאֵה כּוֹס שְׁלִישִׁית וְהַפָּתוּךְ שֶׁבְּסַפַּחַת הַבַּהֶרֶת כְּמַרְאֵה הַכּוֹס הַשְּׁנִיָּה וְהַפָּתוּךְ שֶׁבְּסַפַּחַת הַשְּׂאֵת כְּמַרְאֵה הַכּוֹס הָרִאשׁוֹנָה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
If in one of these four shades of a white hue there is a slight redness mixed in, it is also considered as a *tzara'at* blemish, as Leviticus 13:19 states: "a white *baheret* with redness." This also applies to *si'ait* and to the subsidiary of *si'ait* and to the subsidiary of *baheret*. This hue that is a mixture of whiteness with a little redness is called *petuch*.
What is the appearance of *petuch* in these four shades? It is as if there are four cups filled with milk. In the first was mixed two drops of blood; in the second, there were four drops; in the third, eight drops; and in the fourth, sixteen drops. The *petuch* of a *baheret* is the fourth shade; the *petuch* of *si'ait* is the shade of the third cup; the *petuch* of the *sapachat* of a *baheret* is the shade of the second cup, and the *petuch* of the *sapachat* of *si'ait* is the shade of the first cup.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:5
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:5)

כָּל הַמַּרְאוֹת הָאֵלּוּ בֵּין הַלָּבָן בֵּין הַפָּתוּךְ מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה וּכְמַרְאֶה אֶחָד הֵן חֲשׁוּבִין. וּבֵין שֶׁהָיָה הַנֶּגַע כֻּלּוֹ לָבָן אוֹ מִקְצָתוֹ לָבָן וּמִקְצָתוֹ אֲדַמְדַּם הַכּל כְּמַרְאֶה אֶחָד הוּא בֵּין לְהָקֵל בֵּין לְהַחְמִיר:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
All of these shades - whether the white or the *petuch* - can be joined with each other and are considered as a single appearance. This applies whether the blemish was entirely white or part of it was white and part with redness, it is all considered as a single blemish whether this leads to a more lenient ruling or a more stringent one.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:6
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:6)

כָּל מַרְאֵה צָרַעַת עוֹר הַבָּשָׂר אֵינָהּ קְרוּיָה נֶגַע וְלֹא מְטַמְּאָה עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מַרְאֵה הַנֶּגַע עָמֹק מֵעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר. לֹא עָמֹק בִּמְשִׁישָׁתוֹ אֶלָּא בְּמַרְאִית הָעַיִן כְּמַרְאֵה הַחַמָּה הַנִּרְאֵית לַעַיִן עֲמֻקָּה מִן הַצֵּל. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה מַרְאֵה הַלֹּבֶן אוֹ הַפָּתוּךְ בְּשָׁוֶה עִם שְׁאָר הָעוֹר אוֹ גָּבוֹהַּ מִן הָעוֹר אֵינוֹ נֶגַע אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ צֶמַח מִן הַצְּמָחִים הָעוֹלִים בַּגּוּף:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Any appearance of *tzara'at* on the skin of human flesh is not considered as a blemish and does not impart impurity unless the appearance of the blemish is deep, under the surface of the skin of the flesh. The intent is not only a blemish that can be felt as deep in the flesh, but also one that appears such; it appears like the sun's light that appears to the eye to be deeper than a shadow. If, however, the white shade or the *petuch* is on the same level as the remainder of the flesh or raised above the flesh, it is not a *tzara'at* blemish, but rather a rash like other rashes that erupt on the body.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:7
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:7)

שִׁעוּר כָּל נִגְעֵי צָרַעַת בֵּין צָרַעַת אָדָם בֵּין צָרַעַת בְּגָדִים כִּגְרִיס הַקִּלְקִי שֶׁהוּא מְרֻבָּע. וְהוּא מָקוֹם מְרֻבָּע מֵעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר כְּדֵי צְמִיחַת שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ שְׂעָרוֹת שֵׁשׁ שְׂעָרוֹת אֹרֶךְ וְשֵׁשׁ שְׂעָרוֹת רֹחַב. וְכָל הַפָּחוּת מִזֶּה אֵינוֹ נֶגַע צָרַעַת:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
The minimum measure for all blemishes of *tzara'at*, whether *tzara'at* of humans or *tzara'at* of garments, is the size of a Cilikian *gris*, which is square. This is a square place on the skin of the flesh where 36 hairs could grow, i.e., six hairs in length and six hairs in width. Anything smaller than this is not considered as a *tzara'at* blemish.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:8
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:8)

נֶגַע שֶׁהָיָה רָחְבּוֹ כְּדֵי צְמִיחַת חָמֵשׁ שְׂעָרוֹת אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה אָרְכּוֹ אַמָּה הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר וְאֵינוֹ נֶגַע צָרַעַת עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בּוֹ רִבּוּעַ כִּגְרִיס. וְכָל הַשִּׁעוּרִין הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
When the width of a blemish is only a place to grow five hairs, it is pure and it is not considered as a *tzara'at* blemish, even if it was a cubit in length. It must be at least a square *gris* in size. All of the minimum measures are halachot transmitted to Moses at Sinai.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:9
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:9)

כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג יט) "בַּהֶרֶת" הוּא הַדִּין לִשְׁאָר אַרְבָּעָה מַרְאוֹת שֶׁל לֹבֶן אוֹ שֶׁל פָּתוּךְ וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַנֶּגַע כִּגְרִיס אוֹ יֶתֶר וְיִהְיֶה עָמֹק מֵעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁאָנוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ בַּהֶרֶת סְתָם. בַּהֶרֶת שֶׁהִיא עַזָּה כַּשֶּׁלֶג נִרְאֵית בְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא לָבָן כֵּהָה. וּבַהֶרֶת שֶׁהִיא כֵּהָה נִרְאֵית בְּכוּשִׁי עַזָּה. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין מְשַׁעֲרִין הַכּל אֶלָּא בְּבֵינוֹנִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ לֹא לָבָן וְלֹא שָׁחוֹר:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Whenever a *baheret* is spoken of, the same laws apply to the remainder of the four shades of white or those of a *petuch*, provided the blemish is a *gris* in size and is deeper than the surface of the skin of the flesh. This is what we refer to as a *baheret* without further explanation.
A *baheret* that is very intense white, like snow appears dark on the flesh of an albino. And one that is dark appears intensely white on a black man. Therefore we consider the shade as it would appear on a person of average complexion, neither an albino or a black man.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:10
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:10)

שְׁלֹשָׁה סִימָנֵי טֻמְאָה הֵן בְּצָרַעַת עוֹר הַבָּשָׂר. שֵׂעָר לָבָן וְהַמִּחְיָה וְהַפִּשְׂיוֹן. וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן מְפֹרָשִׁין בַּתּוֹרָה. כֵּיצַד. מִי שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה בּוֹ בַּהֶרֶת וּבָהּ שֵׂעָר לָבָן אוֹ מִחְיַת בָּשָׂר חַי כְּשֶׁיִּרְאֵהוּ הַכֹּהֵן יַחְלִיטוֹ וְיֹאמַר טָמֵא. לֹא הָיָה בָּהּ שֵׂעָר לָבָן וְלֹא מִחְיָה יִסָּגֵר שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי רוֹאֵהוּ אִם נוֹלַד בַּבַּהֶרֶת שֵׂעָר לָבָן אוֹ מִחְיָה אוֹ שֶׁפָּשְׂתָה וְהוֹסִיפָה הֲרֵי זֶה מֻחְלָט. לֹא נוֹלַד בָּהּ לֹא מִחְיָה וְלֹא שֵׂעָר לָבָן וְלֹא פָּשְׂתָה בָּעוֹר יַסְגִּיר שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי. אִם נוֹלַד בָּהּ אֶחָד מִשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן מַחְלִיטוֹ וְאִם לָאו הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר וְיִפְטְרֶנּוּ שֶׁאֵין בְּנִגְעֵי עוֹר הַבָּשָׂר הֶסְגֵּר יֶתֶר עַל שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת. וְאִם לְאַחַר שֶׁפְּטָרוֹ וְטִהֵר פָּשָׂה הַנֶּגַע אוֹ נוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר לָבָן אוֹ מִחְיָה הֲרֵי זֶה מֻחְלָט טֻמְאָה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
There are three signs that indicate ritual impurity with regard to *tzara'at* on the skin of human flesh: white hair, healthy flesh in the midst of a blemish, and expansion. All three are explicitly mentioned in the Torah.
What is implied? If a *baheret* erupts on a person's skin and in its midst there is white hair or a portion of healthy flesh, when the priest sees it, he will rule definitely, saying: "He is impure." If it does not have either white hairs or healthy flesh, he should be isolated for seven days. On the seventh day, the priest sees him again. If the *baheret* grew white hair or healthy flesh or if it expanded and increased, he is definitively categorized as impure. If neither white hair nor healthy flesh grew, nor did the *baheret* expand on his skin, he should be isolated for a second week. If any of the three signs occur, he is definitively categorized as impure. If not, he is pure and he is sent away. The rationale is that blemishes on the skin of human flesh do not require isolation for more than two weeks. If the blemish expands - or white hair or healthy flesh grows in it - after he was sent away and deemed pure, he is definitively categorized as impure.


###### Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:11
[Mishneh Torah, Defilement by Leprosy 1:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Defilement%20by%20Leprosy/r/1:11)

בַּהֶרֶת שֶׁהָיְתָה עַזָּה כַּשֶּׁלֶג וּלְאַחַר הַהֶסְגֵּר נַעֲשֵׂית כִּקְרוּם בֵּיצָה אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה בַּתְּחִלָּה כִּקְרוּם בֵּיצָה וְנַעֲשֵׂית כַּשָּׁלֶג הֲרֵי הִיא כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיְתָה שֶׁאֵין עַזּוּת הַמַּרְאֶה סִימַן טֻמְאָה וְלֹא כְּהִיָּתוֹ סִימַן טָהֳרָה אֶלָּא אִם נִתְמַעֵט מֵאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת וְנַעֲשֵׂית כֵּהָה מִקְּרוּם בֵּיצָה שֶׁהֲרֵי נַעֲשֵׂית בֹּהַק וּלְפִיכָךְ טָהוֹר. אִם כֵּן מַהוּ זֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה (ויקרא יג ו) "וְהִנֵּה כֵּהָה הַנֶּגַע וְלֹא פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בָּעוֹר וְטִהֲרוֹ הַכֹּהֵן". שֶׁאִם כֵּהָה מֵאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת טָהוֹר. וְכֵן אִם לֹא כֵּהָה וְלֹא פָּשָׂה וְלֹא נוֹלְדָה בּוֹ לֹא שֵׂעָר לָבָן וְלֹא מִחְיָה הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
When a *baheret* was originally intensely white like snow and, after isolation, it appeared only as the membrane of an egg, or, originally, it appeared like the membrane of an egg and its intensity increased and it appeared as snow, it is considered in its original state, for an increase in the intensity of the appearance of a blemish is not a sign of impurity, nor is a darkening of it a sign of purity unless it becomes darker than the four shades described above, i.e., darker than the membrane of an egg. In such an instance, it is classified as a *bohak* and he is pure. If so, what is meant by the Torah's statement: "The blemish became darker and did not expand on the flesh, the priest should declare him pure?" That if it became darker than the four shades, he is pure, Similarly, if it did not become darker, but did not expand, nor grew white hair or healthy flesh, he is pure.