How painful is tzara'at












2















The Torah in many places speaks about tzara'at.



Is there any midrash that speaks about the details of the pain of someone infected with tzara'at?










share|improve this question


















  • 1





    Bereshit Raba 41:2 describes the pain of a sickness called ראתן. It's apparently a type of שחין, but at the end of the paragraph it says Pharaoh was struck with צרעת so I'm not sure if ראתן is a type of צרעת or not

    – b a
    13 hours ago






  • 1





    What makes you think there's pain? Happens to be my Rebbe read us a Toras Kohanim with the Raavad which says it's painful. Not sure where

    – robev
    12 hours ago






  • 2





    @b-a in kesubos end of ch. 7 it's some type of parasite in the brain

    – robev
    12 hours ago
















2















The Torah in many places speaks about tzara'at.



Is there any midrash that speaks about the details of the pain of someone infected with tzara'at?










share|improve this question


















  • 1





    Bereshit Raba 41:2 describes the pain of a sickness called ראתן. It's apparently a type of שחין, but at the end of the paragraph it says Pharaoh was struck with צרעת so I'm not sure if ראתן is a type of צרעת or not

    – b a
    13 hours ago






  • 1





    What makes you think there's pain? Happens to be my Rebbe read us a Toras Kohanim with the Raavad which says it's painful. Not sure where

    – robev
    12 hours ago






  • 2





    @b-a in kesubos end of ch. 7 it's some type of parasite in the brain

    – robev
    12 hours ago














2












2








2








The Torah in many places speaks about tzara'at.



Is there any midrash that speaks about the details of the pain of someone infected with tzara'at?










share|improve this question














The Torah in many places speaks about tzara'at.



Is there any midrash that speaks about the details of the pain of someone infected with tzara'at?







midrash tzaraas-negaim






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asked 14 hours ago









Rh HaokipRh Haokip

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585212








  • 1





    Bereshit Raba 41:2 describes the pain of a sickness called ראתן. It's apparently a type of שחין, but at the end of the paragraph it says Pharaoh was struck with צרעת so I'm not sure if ראתן is a type of צרעת or not

    – b a
    13 hours ago






  • 1





    What makes you think there's pain? Happens to be my Rebbe read us a Toras Kohanim with the Raavad which says it's painful. Not sure where

    – robev
    12 hours ago






  • 2





    @b-a in kesubos end of ch. 7 it's some type of parasite in the brain

    – robev
    12 hours ago














  • 1





    Bereshit Raba 41:2 describes the pain of a sickness called ראתן. It's apparently a type of שחין, but at the end of the paragraph it says Pharaoh was struck with צרעת so I'm not sure if ראתן is a type of צרעת or not

    – b a
    13 hours ago






  • 1





    What makes you think there's pain? Happens to be my Rebbe read us a Toras Kohanim with the Raavad which says it's painful. Not sure where

    – robev
    12 hours ago






  • 2





    @b-a in kesubos end of ch. 7 it's some type of parasite in the brain

    – robev
    12 hours ago








1




1





Bereshit Raba 41:2 describes the pain of a sickness called ראתן. It's apparently a type of שחין, but at the end of the paragraph it says Pharaoh was struck with צרעת so I'm not sure if ראתן is a type of צרעת or not

– b a
13 hours ago





Bereshit Raba 41:2 describes the pain of a sickness called ראתן. It's apparently a type of שחין, but at the end of the paragraph it says Pharaoh was struck with צרעת so I'm not sure if ראתן is a type of צרעת or not

– b a
13 hours ago




1




1





What makes you think there's pain? Happens to be my Rebbe read us a Toras Kohanim with the Raavad which says it's painful. Not sure where

– robev
12 hours ago





What makes you think there's pain? Happens to be my Rebbe read us a Toras Kohanim with the Raavad which says it's painful. Not sure where

– robev
12 hours ago




2




2





@b-a in kesubos end of ch. 7 it's some type of parasite in the brain

– robev
12 hours ago





@b-a in kesubos end of ch. 7 it's some type of parasite in the brain

– robev
12 hours ago










1 Answer
1






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6














I can't tell you how much pain a metzora would suffer, but a couple of Mefarshim indicate that they did experience some amount of pain.



Abarbanel to Vayikra 13:1 explains why Tzara'as is called a Nega ("plague"):




ונקראו אלו החליים נגע מפני שהיה העור נגוע בכאב



These illnesses are called "plagues" because the skin is plagued with pain.




Based on this understanding, the Abarbanel asks (on v. 47) on the concept of clothing receiving Tzara'as, as clothing can't feel pain:




ובהיות הבגד דבר שאין בו הרגש איך יתכן שיהיה בו צרעת ואיך יאמר עליו הכתוב צרעת ממארת הנגע טמא הוא כי לשון ממאר' מורה על הכאב כמו סילון ממאיר. ומי שאין לו הרגש כבגד וכעור אין בו כאב



And when it is clothing, something which cannot feel, how can it be that it receives Tzara'as, and how can the passuk say about it "Tzara'as 'mami'eres,' the plague – it is impure," for "mami'eres" speaks about the pain, as in the expression "prickling briers [silon mami'ir]"? For something which doesn't feel, like cloth and leather, it can't have pain!




Rashi to Vayikra 13:51 understands "mami'eres" in the same fashion:




צרעת ממארת. לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז



Tzara'as mima'eres – an expression of "prickling briers," point in Old French.




Bamidbar Rabbah 7:4, in discussing the sin of the Eigel HaZahav, interprets Yeshaya 17:11 as indicating that they received Tzara'as (in the similar Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah 18:3, it says they received both Tzara'as and Zivah):




וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, בּוֹאוּ וְקַבְּלוּ אֶת הַצָּרָעַת. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְשׁוֹן גֶּבֶר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה הַגְּבַרְתָּנִית. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, שֶׁהִיא מְנַתֶּשֶׁת אֶת הַגּוּף שֶׁהִיא נִכְנֶסֶת בּוֹ



"And 'anush' pain" – come and receive the Tzara'as. And why does it call it "'anush' pain"? ['Anush'] means "man" [interpreting 'anush' as 'enosh'], for it is a powerful affliction. Another explanation of "and 'anush' pain": Because it weakens the body into which it enters ['anush' literally means 'acute'].




So it's very clear that there was definitely pain involved, though none of these sources are clear on how much. Abarbanel definitely learns that pain is an integral part of the Tzara'as.






share|improve this answer
























  • Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

    – DanF
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    @DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

    – DonielF
    10 hours ago











  • Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

    – DanF
    10 hours ago











  • +1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

    – Meir
    9 hours ago











  • @Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

    – DonielF
    9 hours ago



















1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active

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active

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active

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6














I can't tell you how much pain a metzora would suffer, but a couple of Mefarshim indicate that they did experience some amount of pain.



Abarbanel to Vayikra 13:1 explains why Tzara'as is called a Nega ("plague"):




ונקראו אלו החליים נגע מפני שהיה העור נגוע בכאב



These illnesses are called "plagues" because the skin is plagued with pain.




Based on this understanding, the Abarbanel asks (on v. 47) on the concept of clothing receiving Tzara'as, as clothing can't feel pain:




ובהיות הבגד דבר שאין בו הרגש איך יתכן שיהיה בו צרעת ואיך יאמר עליו הכתוב צרעת ממארת הנגע טמא הוא כי לשון ממאר' מורה על הכאב כמו סילון ממאיר. ומי שאין לו הרגש כבגד וכעור אין בו כאב



And when it is clothing, something which cannot feel, how can it be that it receives Tzara'as, and how can the passuk say about it "Tzara'as 'mami'eres,' the plague – it is impure," for "mami'eres" speaks about the pain, as in the expression "prickling briers [silon mami'ir]"? For something which doesn't feel, like cloth and leather, it can't have pain!




Rashi to Vayikra 13:51 understands "mami'eres" in the same fashion:




צרעת ממארת. לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז



Tzara'as mima'eres – an expression of "prickling briers," point in Old French.




Bamidbar Rabbah 7:4, in discussing the sin of the Eigel HaZahav, interprets Yeshaya 17:11 as indicating that they received Tzara'as (in the similar Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah 18:3, it says they received both Tzara'as and Zivah):




וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, בּוֹאוּ וְקַבְּלוּ אֶת הַצָּרָעַת. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְשׁוֹן גֶּבֶר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה הַגְּבַרְתָּנִית. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, שֶׁהִיא מְנַתֶּשֶׁת אֶת הַגּוּף שֶׁהִיא נִכְנֶסֶת בּוֹ



"And 'anush' pain" – come and receive the Tzara'as. And why does it call it "'anush' pain"? ['Anush'] means "man" [interpreting 'anush' as 'enosh'], for it is a powerful affliction. Another explanation of "and 'anush' pain": Because it weakens the body into which it enters ['anush' literally means 'acute'].




So it's very clear that there was definitely pain involved, though none of these sources are clear on how much. Abarbanel definitely learns that pain is an integral part of the Tzara'as.






share|improve this answer
























  • Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

    – DanF
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    @DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

    – DonielF
    10 hours ago











  • Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

    – DanF
    10 hours ago











  • +1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

    – Meir
    9 hours ago











  • @Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

    – DonielF
    9 hours ago
















6














I can't tell you how much pain a metzora would suffer, but a couple of Mefarshim indicate that they did experience some amount of pain.



Abarbanel to Vayikra 13:1 explains why Tzara'as is called a Nega ("plague"):




ונקראו אלו החליים נגע מפני שהיה העור נגוע בכאב



These illnesses are called "plagues" because the skin is plagued with pain.




Based on this understanding, the Abarbanel asks (on v. 47) on the concept of clothing receiving Tzara'as, as clothing can't feel pain:




ובהיות הבגד דבר שאין בו הרגש איך יתכן שיהיה בו צרעת ואיך יאמר עליו הכתוב צרעת ממארת הנגע טמא הוא כי לשון ממאר' מורה על הכאב כמו סילון ממאיר. ומי שאין לו הרגש כבגד וכעור אין בו כאב



And when it is clothing, something which cannot feel, how can it be that it receives Tzara'as, and how can the passuk say about it "Tzara'as 'mami'eres,' the plague – it is impure," for "mami'eres" speaks about the pain, as in the expression "prickling briers [silon mami'ir]"? For something which doesn't feel, like cloth and leather, it can't have pain!




Rashi to Vayikra 13:51 understands "mami'eres" in the same fashion:




צרעת ממארת. לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז



Tzara'as mima'eres – an expression of "prickling briers," point in Old French.




Bamidbar Rabbah 7:4, in discussing the sin of the Eigel HaZahav, interprets Yeshaya 17:11 as indicating that they received Tzara'as (in the similar Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah 18:3, it says they received both Tzara'as and Zivah):




וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, בּוֹאוּ וְקַבְּלוּ אֶת הַצָּרָעַת. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְשׁוֹן גֶּבֶר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה הַגְּבַרְתָּנִית. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, שֶׁהִיא מְנַתֶּשֶׁת אֶת הַגּוּף שֶׁהִיא נִכְנֶסֶת בּוֹ



"And 'anush' pain" – come and receive the Tzara'as. And why does it call it "'anush' pain"? ['Anush'] means "man" [interpreting 'anush' as 'enosh'], for it is a powerful affliction. Another explanation of "and 'anush' pain": Because it weakens the body into which it enters ['anush' literally means 'acute'].




So it's very clear that there was definitely pain involved, though none of these sources are clear on how much. Abarbanel definitely learns that pain is an integral part of the Tzara'as.






share|improve this answer
























  • Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

    – DanF
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    @DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

    – DonielF
    10 hours ago











  • Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

    – DanF
    10 hours ago











  • +1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

    – Meir
    9 hours ago











  • @Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

    – DonielF
    9 hours ago














6












6








6







I can't tell you how much pain a metzora would suffer, but a couple of Mefarshim indicate that they did experience some amount of pain.



Abarbanel to Vayikra 13:1 explains why Tzara'as is called a Nega ("plague"):




ונקראו אלו החליים נגע מפני שהיה העור נגוע בכאב



These illnesses are called "plagues" because the skin is plagued with pain.




Based on this understanding, the Abarbanel asks (on v. 47) on the concept of clothing receiving Tzara'as, as clothing can't feel pain:




ובהיות הבגד דבר שאין בו הרגש איך יתכן שיהיה בו צרעת ואיך יאמר עליו הכתוב צרעת ממארת הנגע טמא הוא כי לשון ממאר' מורה על הכאב כמו סילון ממאיר. ומי שאין לו הרגש כבגד וכעור אין בו כאב



And when it is clothing, something which cannot feel, how can it be that it receives Tzara'as, and how can the passuk say about it "Tzara'as 'mami'eres,' the plague – it is impure," for "mami'eres" speaks about the pain, as in the expression "prickling briers [silon mami'ir]"? For something which doesn't feel, like cloth and leather, it can't have pain!




Rashi to Vayikra 13:51 understands "mami'eres" in the same fashion:




צרעת ממארת. לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז



Tzara'as mima'eres – an expression of "prickling briers," point in Old French.




Bamidbar Rabbah 7:4, in discussing the sin of the Eigel HaZahav, interprets Yeshaya 17:11 as indicating that they received Tzara'as (in the similar Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah 18:3, it says they received both Tzara'as and Zivah):




וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, בּוֹאוּ וְקַבְּלוּ אֶת הַצָּרָעַת. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְשׁוֹן גֶּבֶר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה הַגְּבַרְתָּנִית. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, שֶׁהִיא מְנַתֶּשֶׁת אֶת הַגּוּף שֶׁהִיא נִכְנֶסֶת בּוֹ



"And 'anush' pain" – come and receive the Tzara'as. And why does it call it "'anush' pain"? ['Anush'] means "man" [interpreting 'anush' as 'enosh'], for it is a powerful affliction. Another explanation of "and 'anush' pain": Because it weakens the body into which it enters ['anush' literally means 'acute'].




So it's very clear that there was definitely pain involved, though none of these sources are clear on how much. Abarbanel definitely learns that pain is an integral part of the Tzara'as.






share|improve this answer













I can't tell you how much pain a metzora would suffer, but a couple of Mefarshim indicate that they did experience some amount of pain.



Abarbanel to Vayikra 13:1 explains why Tzara'as is called a Nega ("plague"):




ונקראו אלו החליים נגע מפני שהיה העור נגוע בכאב



These illnesses are called "plagues" because the skin is plagued with pain.




Based on this understanding, the Abarbanel asks (on v. 47) on the concept of clothing receiving Tzara'as, as clothing can't feel pain:




ובהיות הבגד דבר שאין בו הרגש איך יתכן שיהיה בו צרעת ואיך יאמר עליו הכתוב צרעת ממארת הנגע טמא הוא כי לשון ממאר' מורה על הכאב כמו סילון ממאיר. ומי שאין לו הרגש כבגד וכעור אין בו כאב



And when it is clothing, something which cannot feel, how can it be that it receives Tzara'as, and how can the passuk say about it "Tzara'as 'mami'eres,' the plague – it is impure," for "mami'eres" speaks about the pain, as in the expression "prickling briers [silon mami'ir]"? For something which doesn't feel, like cloth and leather, it can't have pain!




Rashi to Vayikra 13:51 understands "mami'eres" in the same fashion:




צרעת ממארת. לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז



Tzara'as mima'eres – an expression of "prickling briers," point in Old French.




Bamidbar Rabbah 7:4, in discussing the sin of the Eigel HaZahav, interprets Yeshaya 17:11 as indicating that they received Tzara'as (in the similar Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah 18:3, it says they received both Tzara'as and Zivah):




וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, בּוֹאוּ וְקַבְּלוּ אֶת הַצָּרָעַת. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְשׁוֹן גֶּבֶר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה הַגְּבַרְתָּנִית. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, שֶׁהִיא מְנַתֶּשֶׁת אֶת הַגּוּף שֶׁהִיא נִכְנֶסֶת בּוֹ



"And 'anush' pain" – come and receive the Tzara'as. And why does it call it "'anush' pain"? ['Anush'] means "man" [interpreting 'anush' as 'enosh'], for it is a powerful affliction. Another explanation of "and 'anush' pain": Because it weakens the body into which it enters ['anush' literally means 'acute'].




So it's very clear that there was definitely pain involved, though none of these sources are clear on how much. Abarbanel definitely learns that pain is an integral part of the Tzara'as.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 11 hours ago









DonielFDonielF

16.8k12689




16.8k12689













  • Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

    – DanF
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    @DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

    – DonielF
    10 hours ago











  • Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

    – DanF
    10 hours ago











  • +1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

    – Meir
    9 hours ago











  • @Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

    – DonielF
    9 hours ago



















  • Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

    – DanF
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    @DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

    – DonielF
    10 hours ago











  • Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

    – DanF
    10 hours ago











  • +1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

    – Meir
    9 hours ago











  • @Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

    – DonielF
    9 hours ago

















Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

– DanF
10 hours ago





Interesting source. But, isn't the emotional pain of being isolated from the community sufficient to be described as "pain"?

– DanF
10 hours ago




1




1





@DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

– DonielF
10 hours ago





@DanF It’s described as צער, perhaps; all of these sources describe כאב, which is exclusively used as physical pain. Cf. Bereishis 34:25 ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים

– DonielF
10 hours ago













Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

– DanF
10 hours ago





Thanks. That's a good nuance in the meaning.

– DanF
10 hours ago













+1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

– Meir
9 hours ago





+1. I thought I remembered something about Naaman being driven to seek a cure from Elisha because his tzaraas was painful too (otherwise he wouldn't have had a reason to bother; tumah and taharah don't apply to him), but I can't find it.

– Meir
9 hours ago













@Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

– DonielF
9 hours ago





@Meir Certainly makes sense. I don’t see anything on those Pesukim, but if I find anything I’ll let you know.

– DonielF
9 hours ago



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