Tzara'at/2/en

Tzaraat

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Divine Punishment

Tzara'at is a malady sent by Hashem to warn or punish a person for sin.

Sources:ToseftaNegaim 6:6About the Tosefta, BavliYoma 11bArakhin 15bArakhin 16aAbout the Bavli, Vayikra Rabbah17:317:4About Vayikra Rabbah, Bemidbar Rabbah7:5About Bemidbar Rabbah, TanchumaTazria 10Metzora 4About the Tanchuma, RashiVayikra 13:45-46Vayikra 14:4About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Kuzari2:58-62About R. Yehuda HaLevi, Ibn EzraVayikra 13:2Vayikra 13:45Vayikra 14:4,7,10About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorVayikra 13:45-46Vayikra 14:4-7Vayikra 14:21Vayikra 14:53About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambamHilkhot Tume'at Tzara'at 16:10Moreh Nevukhim 3:47About R. Moshe b. Maimon, RambanVayikra 13:47Vayikra 14:4Vayikra 14:18Vayikra 14:34Vayikra 14:53About R. Moshe b. Nachman, AbarbanelVayikra 12Vayikra 13:1Vayikra 14:33About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoVayikra 13:2-3,5Vayikra 14:12Vayikra 14:55About R. Ovadyah Seforno, R. S"R HirschVayikra 13About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch

Natural or supernatural? The Kuzari,¹ Rambam,² Ramban³ and R. Hirsch⁴ suggest that the malady is totally supernatural in nature, while Ibn Ezra,⁵ R"Y Behor Shor, Abarbanel and Seforno imply that, despite its being Divinely afflicted, tzara'at of the body⁶ might nonetheless be a naturally occurring disease, or at least have natural components.⁷

For which sins? These sources disagree regarding which sins cause a person to be plagued with tzara'at, but most of them speak of slander⁸ and/or haughtiness.⁹  Several of the  Midrashic sources¹⁰ include entire lists of potential sins,¹¹ mentioning theft, murder, selfishness, lying, desecration of God's name, overstepping boundaries, illicit sexual relations, and swearing falsely.

Biblical cases – This position is supported by the fact that most of the stories in Tanakh which mention a person being afflicted with tzara'at, explicitly speak of it as a punishment:

• Bemidbar 12– Miriam is Divinely struck with tzara'at for speaking against Moshe.
• Shemuel II 3 – After killing Avner against David's wishes, Yoav is cursed that he shall be afflicted with tzara'at.
• Melakhim II 5 – Gechazi is plagued by tzara'at upon the word of Elisha after he disobeys the prophet.
• Divrei HaYamim II 26 – King Uziyahu is punished with tzara'at for his haughtiness in bringing the ketoret.

From this list, it seems that the common denominator between the various sins is a rebellion against authority.¹²

Comparison to tzara'at of the house and clothing

• According to many of these sources,¹³ the afflictions brought on a person's clothing and house are meant to serve as warnings of sin, to lead the person to repent before he himself is bodily afflicted.¹⁴  Abarbanel adds that the obvious supernatural nature of the plague on the house comes to teach that the others as well are Divine and providential.¹⁵

"וְנָתַתִּי נֶגַע צָרַעַת" – Ramban¹⁶ points out that the language of "וְנָתַתִּי" suggests that Hashem is actively bringing the plague and that it cannot be attributed to natural causes.¹⁷ R. Hirsch adds that the word "נֶגַע" itself has the specific connotation of a plague brought by Divine decree,¹⁸ rather than an ordinary disease.

Comparison to other forms of impurity – Most other conditions which cause impurity (bodily emissions, childbirth, and death) do not seem to be connected to sin and punishment, but are rather natural states.  As such, this understanding of tzara'at would make it an exceptional form of impurity.

Role of priest – The afflicted person is checked by a priest rather than a doctor since this is a cultic issue of sin and impurity rather than natural disease.¹⁹  Seforno adds that the priest will both push the person to reflect on his deeds and pray for him as well.

Aspects of the defilement/purification process – These sources understand many aspects of the purification process as correctives to, atonement, or punishment for sin:

• Isolation – Rashi, following Bavli Arakhin, explains that this is a measure for measure punishment. Since the metzora, through his gossip, caused people to separate from one another, he too is separated from society. Rav Hirsch, instead, suggests that the isolation serves to shame the person into self reflection²⁰ and correction of his negative social behavior.²¹
• Torn clothing and loose hair - Rashi, Ibn Ezra, R"Y Bekhor Shor and Abarbanel point out that these are signs of mourning. Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel explain that the metzora must mourn his wayward ways that led to the affliction, while R"Y Bekhor Shor claims that he is mourning his rejection by Hashem.
• Sending away of birds – Ramban compares the birds to the goat that is sent to Azazel as part of the purification process of Yom HaKippurim, suggesting that in both cases their role is to carry away the people's sins.  Bavli Arakhin explains that birds were chosen specifically because they chirp, thereby reminding the person of his sin of speaking about others.²² 
• Cedar and hyssop – Rashi and R. Yosef Bekhor Shor suggest that these symbolize the fact that the person who had been haughty²³ is now humbled and brought low.²⁴
• Scarlet thread – R"Y Bekhor Shor asserts that this represents sin, as Yeshayahu says, "אִם יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים כַּשֶּׁלֶג יַלְבִּינוּ".
• אשם and חטאת– These offerings are brought as part of the process of atonement.

Why does tzara'at cause impurity?

Natural Disease

Tzaraat is a natural disease which can strike a person regardless of sin.

Sources:R. Yochanan Bavli KetubotKetubot 77bAbout the Bavli,²⁵ RalbagVayikra 11:47Vayikra 13:5About R. Levi b. Gershom, ShadalVayikra 12:2About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, R. David Zvi HoffmannVayikra 13About R. David Zvi Hoffmann

What disease? None of these sources attempt to identify tzara'at with a specific known disease,²⁶ sufficing with the claim that it was a malady that could have affected anyone.

Tzara'at of the house and clothing – Ralbag attempts to give a natural explanation for these forms of tzara'at, as well, explaining that due to outside moisture or warmth, these materials' natural properties are weakened causing rotting or discoloration.

Connection to other forms of impurity – As all the other cases of impurity (those stemming from bodily emissions, contact with the dead and birth) result from natural processes and do not appear to be related to sin or punishment, it is logical to assume that tzara'at is no different.

Why does it  cause impurity? These sources differ greatly in how they understand the impurity of the metzora:

• Decay – According to Ralbag, most impurities relate to loss of life or potential life,²⁷ when all that is left of man is his material being.²⁸ This is supposed to highlight to a person that the physical ("material") aspect of man is not what is lofty, but only the spiritual ("form").²⁹ Thus, when certain bodily functions cause either an excess or decay (causing the material aspect to dominate), they similarly defile.³⁰ Tzara'at, which is an especially severe form of bodily decay which stems from and spreads throughout man's material body, thus promotes a high level of impurity.³¹
• Promote belief in Divine providence – Shadal suggests that in ancient times, people (erroneously) assumed that that the skin changes brought by tzara'at were a sign of God's wrath and concluded that the plagued individual must have sinned severely.  As such, they would naturally avoid the person.  Since this attitude promoted belief in God's providence and the concepts of reward and punishment, the Torah allowed it to persist and established tzara'at as a form of impurity with all its accompanying laws.³²
• Symbolic of sin – R. Hoffmann suggests that all the various categories of impurity are meant to be symbolic of (but not a consequence of) sin.³³  In reality any condition could have been chosen, but these were specified because they were outwardly better symbols. [He suggests that the appearance of a person plagued by tzara'at, whose flesh was so disfigured, made people associate it with death,³⁴ and thus with sin.]

Divine providence

Biblical cases – In most cases in Tanakh where a person is afflicted with tzara'at, it appears to be Divinely sent as punishment, presenting a difficulty for this approach.³⁵ These sources might explain that Hashem is simply using an otherwise natural disease as a punishment, just as elsewhere he afflicts people with blindness or plague.

"וְנָתַתִּי נֶגַע צָרַעַת" – Ralbag explains that the language of "וְנָתַתִּי" need not imply that Hashem is actively bringing the plague.³⁶  It is simply attributed to Him since He is the first cause that drives everything in the world.³⁷

Role of priest – The priest is involved, not because there is a need for atonement, but because the disease causes impurity which is his domain.

Aspects of the defilement/purification process – Since Shadal sees the laws of tzara'at as aimed at reinforcing the people's belief that it was caused by sin, he reads many aspects of the process as symbolic of sin or atonement,³⁸ similar to the approach above.³⁹ Ralbag, in contrast, disassociates the process from one of atonement and instead views some aspects as medical in nature, and some as educational.⁴⁰  It is also possible that certain components of the ceremony are simply normal procedures found in many purification rites:

• Isolation – Ralbag maintains that the banishment from the camp is necessary to prevent contagion by others.
• Seven day periods of confinement – Ralbag suggests that this is the natural amount of time needed for a disease to progress and for certain symptoms to manifest themselves.
• Tearing of clothing, covering of hair/mouth – Ralbag views this as related to the impure state created by tzara'at rather than the disease itself. He suggests that these actions are meant to be signs of degradation, to remind people of the lowliness of the material aspects of our being which caused this condition. However, this approach could have alternately explained, as does Ibn EzraVayikra 13:2Vayikra 13:45Vayikra 14:4,7,10About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, that the covering of the mouth was meant to guard against infection.
• Burning of clothing/ destruction of home – These, too,  might be explained as a necessary precautions to prevent spread of the disease.⁴¹ 
• Scarlet thread, hyssop and cedar– As the person is already cured at this point, these actions might have no medicinal purpose. As this same threesome is found in the red heifer ceremony, it might simply be understood as a standard component of several purification rites.
• Sending away of birds
• "Living" birds, water and
• Shaving of hair– Ralbag maintains that since the hair grew from diseased blood it might still have marks of the disease on it and needs to be shaved.
• Separation from sexual relations⁴²– Ralbag explains that having sexual relations at this point might weaken the afflicted person and cause a relapse of the disease.
• Chatat and asham

¹ Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi views tzara'at as a metaphysical consequence of sin. Normally, when Hashem's presence rests among the nation, they merit a certain Divine radiance, but when an individual sins, he loses this glow and the effects are manifest on either his body, clothing or home in the form of tzara'at.

² In Hilkhot Tumat Tzara'at, Rambam only speaks explicitly of tzara'at of the clothing and house as being out of the natural order but in the Moreh Nevukhim, he refers to the affliction as a whole as a miracle.  He further points out that the Torah does not distinguish between the seemingly distinct phenomena of whiteness on the skin, loss of hair, or staining of the house and walls, referring to all as tzara'at.  Since the last two examples are clearly not natural, it would follow that the other conditions with the same name are miraculous as well.

³ Ramban explicitly refers to tzara'at of the clothing as something "which is not in nature at all".  However, since he then does not distinguish between the various types of the affliction, but rather views them all together as a sign of Divine disapproval and the removal of His presence (following the Kuzari) , it appears that he believes that the other forms of tzara'at  are similarly metaphysical phenomena.

⁴ R. Hirsch speaks at length against a medical understanding of the affliction, bringing numerous proofs from the laws relating to it. For example, he points out that if tzara'at covers the entire body it does not generate impurity.  This would be counterintuitive if the process was one of disease control.  Similarly with regards to tzara'at of the house, before the priest enters to declare it pure or impure, all items from the house are removed so as to maintain their purity.  If the process was meant to prevent contagion or the like, this too would not be logical.   Rabbibnic law, similalerly doesnot support a medical understanding as it states that a convert

⁵ He is not explicit, but does speak of the affliction as being contagious. Thus, he reads the need to cover the mouth (וְעַל שָׂפָם יַעְטֶה) as a precaution lest the metzora infect the air and the sending of the bird to an unsettled territory as a means of ensuring that it does not spread disease to people.

⁶ Both Seforno and Abarbanel, however, do claim that other forms of tzara'at are miraculous.  Seforno refers to both tzara'at of the house and clothing as a wonder (but implies that tzara'at of the body is not and that the conditions discussed in the chapter refer to specific types of a more generally occurring disease.)  Abarbanel similarly speaks of tzara'at of the house as being miraculous, but nonetheless advances a more natural theory for tzara'at of the clothing, suggesting that it might have been infected by the metzora.

⁷ As such, these latter commentators explain certain aspects of the purification process to be medically related.  R"Y Bekhor Shor suggests that the isolation might relate to the contagious nature of the disease while Abarbanel similarly explains that afflicted clothing must be put away for seven days lest they reinfect the person, and that a person even upon returning to the camp may not have relations with his wife since it is not healthy for recovery.

⁸ See, for example Resh Lakish in Bavli Arakhin who makes a play on words, "זאת תהיה תורת המצורע זאת תהיה תורתו של מוציא שם רע".  Vaykira Rabbah, Tanchuma and others learn this from Miriam who is struck by tzaraat after speaking against Moshe. Rambam similarly points to Devarim 24:8-9 where the Torah points to Miriam specifically when warning about the malady.

⁹ As evidence, they point to Uziyahu of whom the verse says, "וּכְחֶזְקָתוֹ גָּבַהּ לִבּוֹ עַד לְהַשְׁחִית" (Divrei HaYamim II 26) and who was then punished with tzara'at.

¹⁰ See Bavli Arakhin 16a, Vayikra Rabbah 17:3, Bemidbar Rabbah 7:5 and Tanchuma Metzora 4.

¹¹ These range from seven to eleven and more items. The various sources attempt to link each suggestion with a case in Tanakh where someone sinned and was afflicted.  However, in many of the cases brought, it is either not explicit that the person actually sinned, or that the punishment they received was indeed tzara'at.

¹² See Menachem Ben-Yashar, "נגע הצרעת – על שום מה", who elaborates on this point.  He suggests that when Hashem has Moshe's hand be afflicted in Shemot 4:1-7, this, too, might stem from a similar rebellion against authority: Moshe's hesitation to heed Hashem's command and embark on His mission.  Similarly, though the text never states the reason for the tzara'at of Naaman (Melakhim II 5) or the 4 metzoraim (Melakhim II 7), both sets of characters lead to a demonstration of the power of the prophet and his word. When Na'aman requests to be cured, Elisha states, "יָבֹא נָא אֵלַי וְיֵדַע כִּי יֵשׁ נָבִיא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל".  Similarly the 4 metzoarim play a role in ending the famine, confirming Elisha's earlier prophecy.

¹³ See Tosefta Negaim, Vayikra Rabbah, Tanchuma, R. Yehuda HaLevi, Rambam, Abarbanel and Seforno.

¹⁴ Ramban explains similarly but claims that these forms of the affliction only occur in Israel (as it says by tzaraat of the house, "כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן").  He explains that Hashem's spirit rests upon the nation there, and normally affixes a positive appearance on all, but when a person sins and Hashem's spirit leaves him, his clothing, house or body are "stained" as a sign of Divine disapproval. [In this last point he follows the Kuzari discussed above.]

¹⁵ Despite this, as seen above, Abarbanel offers a fairly natural explanation of tzara'at of the clothing.  He suggests that certain materials which are worn close to a person's body might be affected by the moisture and decay of the afflicted person's skin, causing stains.

¹⁶ See also Abarbanel.

¹⁷ Though the phrase only appears by tzaraat of the house, one might learn from this case to the others.

¹⁸ See Bereshit 12:17 regarding the plague that Hashem brings on Paroh's house after his taking of Sarah and Shemot 11:1 regarding the Plague of Firstborns.

¹⁹ See R. Hirsch, who comments, "אין להעלות על הדעת, שהכהנים ממלאים תפקיד במסגרת "שירותי התברואה.

²⁰ He brings evidence from the story of Miriam who is banished from the camp with the explanation, "וְאָבִיהָ יָרֹק יָרַק בְּפָנֶיהָ הֲלֹא תִכָּלֵם שִׁבְעַת יָמִים".

²¹ R"Y Bekhor Shor, in contrast, suggests that this is actually a measure instituted not as punishment but for the protection of others as the affliction was contagious.

²² R"Y Bekhor Shor, in contrast, suggests that freeing the birds represents the freeing of the metzora, who will be able to come out of isolation after the purification process.

²³ See above that many sources suggest that tzaraat comes as punishment for haughtiness.

²⁴ The cedar is considered the loftiest of trees and the hyssop, one of the smallest, as expressed in the verse which speaks of Shelomo's knowldege, " וַיְדַבֵּר עַל הָעֵצִים מִן הָאֶרֶז אֲשֶׁר בַּלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד הָאֵזוֹב אֲשֶׁר יֹצֵא בַּקִּיר" (Melakhim II 5:13).

²⁵ R. Yochanan does not elaborate but states that tzara'at is not found in Babylonia due to bathing in the Perat and certain food and drink consumed there.  This suggests that he viewed the affliction as a natural disease which could be prevented through proper diet and hygiene.

²⁶ Throughout the ages many have tried to find a skin disease whose symptoms match those described in Tanakh, but without total success. The identification of tzara'at as leprosy, or Hansen's disease, stems from translations in the Septuagint and Vulgate which read "lepra".  Though this probably referred only to scaly or rough skin, it was later understood as leprosy.  The identification is not likely since many of the disease's markers, including muscle weakness, loss of sensation, eye problems, and nosebleeds have no connection to the symptoms described in Vayikra. In addition, the long incubation period and slow development of the malady do not fit with the Biblical mandate for seven day intervals to see how the condition was progressing.  Finally, Hansen's Disease was not known in the Middle Eastern  region until the time period of Alexander the Great.  Other diseases that have been proposed as candidates for tzara'at include psoriasis, vitiligo, syphilis, neurodermititis and melanoma. It is also  possible that the disease was prevalent in ancient times, but no is longer extant today.

²⁷ See the Kuzari who also connects impurity to death, writing, "אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַצָּרַעַת וְהַזִּיבוּת תְּלוּיוֹת בְּטֻמְאַת הַמֵּת, כִּי הַמָּוֶת הוּא הַהֶפְסֵד הַגָּדוֹל, וְהָאֵבֶר הַמְּצֹרָע כַּמֵּת וְהַזֶּרַע הַנִּפְסָד כֵּן". 

²⁸ He speaks of the "form" and "material" aspects of man, which seem to be roughly  equivalent to the spiritual and physical parts of man's being, or to the soul and body.

²⁹ As such, the various levels of impurity relate to the level of the "form" that was taken. Since man's soul is more exalted than that of animals, his death causes a higher level of impurity.

³⁰ He suggests that a menstruating woman or person who has unnatural bodily emissions (zav/zavah) are all releasing excess seed/blood which are not ripe for bearing children.  Similarly, a man who emits semen is losing out on the potential for life.  Finally, a birthing mother, too, releases the blood which was not needed to nourish her child.  In all these cases there is an excess of the "material" without the "form".  Tzara'at, in contrast, causes a loss of the "material", as the body decays.  The common denominator, however, is that all these conditions highlight the lowliness of the material being and supremacy of the spiritual.

³¹ Ralbag does not explain why no other diseases similarly cause defilement. It seems that Ralbag believed that tzara'at originated from within the body rather than being caused by some external factor, and as such served to better highlight how the material aspect of man is not the beneficial one.  It is also possible that tzara'at caused more disfigurement than many other diseases, again making the physical more dominant and the need for impurity greater.

³² For similar cases in which Shadal suggests that Hashem left the nation to continue in their benign though false conceptions, see About Shadal.  One example is developed at Half Shekels – For Census or Tabernacle?.

³³ Impurity stemming from contact with the dead symbolizes sins against God, bodily emissions represent sins of desire, and tzara'at stands for sins against society.  As such, the people in the first category are removed only from the vicinity of the Mikdash itself, while those in the last are banished from the Israelite camp altogether. As all cases require distancing one's self from the Mikdash, the institution served to remind people of their holy mission and the need to shy away from sin and even symbols thereof.

³⁴ See Aharon's words regarding Miriam, "אַל נָא תְהִי כַּמֵּת".

³⁵ See the examples of Miriam, Yoav, Gechazi, and Uziyahu, discussed above. On the other hand, Tanakh does not explain why Na'aman (Melakhim II 5) or the 4 metzoarim of Melakhim II 7 were afflicted, allowing for the possibility that they contracted the disease naturally.  In Shemot 4 Hashem gives Moshe a sign in the form of tzara'at on his hand.  This is clearly a supernatural event, but from the simple reading of the verses it too is unconnected to sin.

³⁶ He does also allow for the possibility that Divine providence is at work, either to help people find hidden treasure as suggested in Vayikra Rabbah 17:6, or to protect the owners in a case where their wall is unstable. Interestingly, Ralbag does not posit that that this could be a Divine warning to repent.  This might relate to Ralbag's understanding of individual providence, which would only be merited by an extremely righteous individual, and not by a sinner who would not merit a miraculous warning.

³⁷ He writes, "[כי הוא סיבה לכל מה שיתחדש באופן־מה, ואף על פי שאין הרע מתחדש ממנו בעצמוּת]".  See Shadal who explains similarly regarding the Hardening of Paroh's Heart. He claims that the action is attributed to Hashem even though Paroh hardened his own heart because Hashem is the ultimate cause of all that happens.  He suggests that it is specifically strange events that are assigned to the hand of God, as they are incomprehensible without postulating Hashem's intervention.  Here, too, one might posit that tzara'at of the house seems miraculous and therefore attributed to Him despite it really being due to natural causes.

³⁸ Thus he reads the banishment from the camp, destruction of the house and burning of clothing as signs of God's wrath and rebuke of the afflicted person.  The scarlet thread, cedar and hyssop represent sins (red) both big (cedar) and small (hyssop) which need atonement.  This comes via the ritual of the two birds.  The one which is killed acts as a substitute for the life of the metzora, while the one left alive represents the purified person.  It is first connected to his sins (the scarlet thread, cedar and hyssop) and then placed in living water and blood as a sign of purification. Finally, it is let free as a sign that the metzora is welcome back in the camp. Last, the sin-offerings are brought as the metzora submits himself to Hashem, requesting that Hashem's anger cease and that he no longer be distance from Him.

³⁹ As R. D"Z Hoffmann views the impurity as being symbolic of sin, he, too, reads certain aspects of the process in the same manner.  Thus, he too highlights that the isolation from the camp is symbolic of having sinned against society.

⁴⁰ He claims that several parts of the ceremony are aimed at highlighting the unworthiness of the  material aspects of man's being and how it is the cause of the tragedies which befall him.

⁴¹ See Abarbanel who offers this reasoning to explain the need to first confine the clothing, though he reads the actual burning as a result of their impure state. Ralbag himself explains that the clothing are burned as a further reminder of the worthlessness of the "material".

⁴² This is learned from Vayikra 14:8, וְיָשַׁב מִחוּץ לְאׇהֳלוֹ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים".