28- Metzora

מצרע- "Leper"
Weekly parashah #28: Metzora Torah: Vayikra (Leviticus) 14:1-15:33 Haftarah: M'lakhim Bet (2 Kings) 7:3-20 Greek Scriptures: Luke 12-13 (In regular years read with previous parashah. In leap years read by itself.)

Leviticus 14:1-2

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest,

The Hebrew Words

Metzora comes from the Hebrew word tzarah. Tzarah is a primitive root which means "to scourge", that is to be stricken with tzara'at (not "leprosy" i.e. Hansen's disease). Tzarah (Strong's #6879) is used 21 times in 18 verses in the Tanakh.

Tzarah is the root of two other Hebrew words, tzirah (a wasp) (Strong's #6880), and tzara'at (leprosy) (Strong's #6883).

First use in Scripture

The first time tzarah is used in Scripture is in Exodus 4:6.

Exodus 4:6

The LORD furthermore said to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom." So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

Last use in Scripture

The last time tzarah is used in Scripture is in 2 Chronicles 26:23.

2 Chronicles 26:23

So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper [metzorah]." And Jotham his son became king in his place.

Parashah Outline

• Law of Cleansing a Leper [Metzorah] - Leviticus 14:1
• Cleansing a Leprous House - Leviticus 14:33
• Cleansing Unhealthiness - Leviticus 15:1

Portraits of Messiah

Verse by Verse Notes

Other Observations