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Leviticus 14:48 - Priest declares home pure.

Leviticus 14:48 - ויקרא 14:48

Hebrew Text

וְאִם־בֹּא יָבֹא הַכֹּהֵן וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה לֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בַּבַּיִת אַחֲרֵי הִטֹּחַ אֶת־הַבָּיִת וְטִהַר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַבַּיִת כִּי נִרְפָּא הַנָּגַע׃

English Translation

And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague has not spread in the house, after the house was plastered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.

Transliteration

Ve'im-bo yavo hakohen vera'a vehine lo-fasa hanega babayit acharei hitoch et-habayit vetiher hakohen et-habayit ki nirpa hanega.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְאִם־בֹּ֨א יָבֹ֜א הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְרָאָה֙ וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹא־פָשָׂ֤ה הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת אַחֲרֵ֖י הִטֹּ֣חַ אֶת־הַבָּ֑יִת וְטִהַ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת כִּ֥י נִרְפָּ֖א הַנָּֽגַע׃
וְאִם־בֹּ֨א יָבֹ֜א הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְרָאָה֙ וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹא־פָשָׂ֤ה הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת אַחֲרֵ֖י הִטֹּ֣חַ אֶת־הַבָּ֑יִת וְטִהַ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת כִּ֥י נִרְפָּ֖א הַנָּֽגַע׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Vayikra 14:48) is part of the Torah's discussion regarding the laws of tzara'at (often mistranslated as "leprosy") affecting houses. The Torah outlines a detailed process for diagnosing and purifying a house afflicted with this spiritual malady, which is understood by our Sages as a Divine warning for sins such as lashon hara (evil speech) or stinginess (Rashi on Vayikra 14:34, citing Midrash Tanchuma).

Explanation of the Verse

The verse describes the final stage of the purification process for a house afflicted with tzara'at. After the initial quarantine and replastering of the house (as mentioned in earlier verses), the priest returns to inspect it. If the plague has not spread further, the priest declares the house tahor (clean), indicating that the spiritual impurity has been rectified.

  • Priestly Role: The Torah emphasizes that only a kohen (priest) may declare the house clean, underscoring the spiritual dimension of the affliction (Rambam, Hilchot Tumat Tzara'at 9:1).
  • No Further Spread: The phrase "lo-fasah hanega ba'bayit" ("the plague has not spread in the house") indicates that the corrective measures—such as repentance and removing the sinful behavior—were effective (Sforno).
  • Healing of the Plague: The term "nirpa hanega" ("the plague is healed") suggests that the affliction was not merely a physical phenomenon but a spiritual one requiring Divine healing (Malbim).

Spiritual Lessons

Our Sages derive several moral teachings from this passage:

  • Repentance and Renewal: Just as the house required replastering, a person must "replaster" their ways by correcting their behavior (Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 17:7).
  • Divine Mercy: The fact that the house can be purified teaches that Hashem provides opportunities for repentance and does not desire destruction (Ramban on Vayikra 14:34).
  • Community Impact: Since a house is a shared space, the affliction serves as a public reminder to avoid sins that harm societal harmony (Kli Yakar).

Halachic Implications

The Rambam (Hilchot Tumat Tzara'at 14:9) rules that these laws apply only when the majority of the Jewish people dwell in Eretz Yisrael under Divine providence, as the phenomenon of tzara'at houses was a unique sign of Hashem's direct involvement with the nation.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Nega'im 12:5
The verse is referenced in the Mishnah discussing the laws of leprosy in houses, specifically regarding the priest's inspection and declaration of cleanliness after the plague has not spread.
📖 Sifra Metzora, Parashah 5
The verse is cited in the Sifra, a halakhic midrash on Leviticus, in the context of detailing the procedures for the priest's examination and purification of a house affected by leprosy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Leviticus 14:48 mean?
A: This verse describes the process where a priest examines a house for tzara'at (a spiritual affliction often translated as 'leprosy') after the walls have been scraped and replastered. If the affliction hasn't spread, the priest declares the house clean because the problem has been healed.
Q: Why is checking for tzara'at in houses important?
A: The Torah teaches that tzara'at in houses was a spiritual warning, often connected to negative speech (lashon hara) or other moral failings. The inspection process, as described in Leviticus 14:48, shows how repentance and correction can bring purification, teaching us about spiritual growth and accountability.
Q: What can we learn from the house being declared clean?
A: Rashi explains that when the affliction doesn't return after scraping and replastering, it shows the problem has been resolved. This teaches us that true repentance and change (represented by the scraping and replastering) can bring about spiritual healing and a fresh start.
Q: Does this law about house tzara'at apply today?
A: According to traditional Jewish sources like Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Tumat Tzara'at 11:6), the laws of tzara'at on houses don't apply today because these phenomena only occurred when the Temple stood and the Jewish people were on a higher spiritual level. However, the moral lessons remain relevant.
Q: Why did the priest have to examine the house again after replastering?
A: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 71a) explains that the second inspection shows that superficial changes (like replastering) alone don't solve spiritual problems. The affliction must genuinely stop spreading, teaching that real change comes from addressing root causes, not just covering up symptoms.