Defilement by Leprosy Chapter 8

נִגְעֵי הָרֹאשׁ וְהַזָּקָן הוּא שֶׁיִּפּל הַשֵּׂעָר שֶׁבָּהֶן מֵעִקָּרוֹ וְיִשָּׁאֵר מְקוֹם הַשֵּׂעָר פָּנוּי וְזֶה הוּא הַנִּקְרָא נֶתֶק. וְאֵין נֶתֶק פָּחוֹת מִכִּגְרִיס הַמְרֻבָּע בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה מַרְאֵהוּ עָמֹק בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה עָמֹק. וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר עָמֹק בִּנְתָקִין אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לְךָ מַה מַּרְאֶה עָמֹק בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם אַף נֶתֶק הַמִּטַמֵא בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם לְהוֹצִיא שֶׁנִּתְּקוֹ אָדָם שֶׁהוּא טָהוֹר. וְהָאִשָּׁה וְהַסָּרִיס שֶׁהֶעֱלָה זְקָנָם שֵׂעָר הֲרֵי זֶה מִטַּמֵּא בִּנְתָקִים:

With regard to blemishes of the head and the chin, if the hair would fall out from its roots and leave a portion of skin bare of hair, it is called a netek. A netek may not be less than the size of a gris that is square. This applies whether it appears deep or not. The term "deep" was mentioned with regard to a netek only to teach you: Just as a shade that is deep comes about through the hand of heaven, so too, a netek must come about through the hand of heaven. This excludes a blemish on a portion of the head or chin whose hair was removed by a person. Such a blemish is pure. When a woman or a seris grow hair on their chins, they can contract the impurity of a netek if it falls off.

הַנְּתָקִין מִטַמְּאִין בִּשְׁנֵי סִימָנִים בְּשֵׂעָר צָהֹב דַּק וּבְפִשְׂיוֹן וְיֵשׁ בָּהֶן הֶסְגֵּר שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְכָל זֶה מְפֹרָשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה. כֵּיצַד. מִי שֶׁנּוֹלַד לוֹ נֶתֶק בְּרֹאשׁוֹ אוֹ בִּזְקָנוֹ אִם הָיוּ בּוֹ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת צְהֻבּוֹת דַּקּוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר וְאֵין שָׁם בַּנֶּתֶק שֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר כְּלָל יַחְלִיט. לֹא הָיָה בּוֹ שֵׂעָר לֹא שָׁחֹר וְלֹא צָהֹב יַסְגִּיר שָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי רוֹאֵהוּ אִם נוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב דַּק אוֹ שֶׁפָּשָׂה הַנֶּתֶק יַחְלִיט נוֹלְדוּ בּוֹ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת יִפְטֹר אוֹתוֹ. לֹא פָּשָׂה וְלֹא נוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב וְלֹא שֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר יְגַלֵּחַ סְבִיבוֹת הַנֶּתֶק וְלֹא יְגַלֵּחַ הַנֶּתֶק וְיַסְגִּיר שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי וְחוֹזֵר וְרוֹאֵהוּ בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי. אִם פָּשָׂה הַנֶּתֶק אוֹ נוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב דַּק יַחְלִיט. לֹא נוֹלַד בּוֹ כְּלוּם יִפְטֹר שֶׁאֵין הֶסְגֵּר בִּנְתָקִין יֶתֶר עַל שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת. וְאִם אַחַר שֶׁפְּטָרוֹ נוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב אוֹ פָּשָׂה יַחְלִיט:

Netakim become impure due to two signs: short, golden hair and spreading. There is an isolation period of two weeks. All of this is explicitly stated in the Torah. What is implied? When a netek appears on a man's head or in his beard, if it contains two or more short, gold hairs, and there is no black hair in the netek at all, he should be deemed definitively impure. If it did not contain any hair - neither black, nor golden - he should be isolated for a week. On the seventh day, a priest should examine him. If short golden hair emerged or the netek spread, the afflicted person should be deemed definitively as impure. If two black hairs emerged, he should be released from the inspection process. If it neither spread and neither golden nor black hair emerged, the priest should shave around the netek, but not the hair directly adjacent to the netek and isolate him for a second week. The priest should examine him again at the end of the second week. If the netek spread or short golden hair emerged, he should be deemed definitively as impure. If nothing changes, he is released from the inspection process. For netakim do not require isolation for more than two weeks. If golden hair appears or the netek expands after he was released, he is definitively categorized as impure.

כֵּיצַד מְגַלְּחִין אֶת הַנֶּתֶק. מְגַלֵּחַ חוּצָה לוֹ וּמַנִּיחַ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת סָמוּךְ לוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִכָּר הַפִּשְׂיוֹן. וְתִגְלַחְתּוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה בְּכָל אָדָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג לג) "וְהִתְגַּלָּח" וְכֵן כְּשֵׁרָה בְּכָל דָּבָר וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיָה נָזִיר הֲרֵי זֶה מְגַלֵּחַ. הִסְגִּירוֹ וְלֹא גִּלְּחוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מֻסְגָּר:

How is the netek shaved? One shaves the area around it and leaves two hairs next to it on every side so that any spread will be noticeable. This shaving is acceptable no matter which person performs it, as implied by Leviticus 13:33: "And he will be shaved." Similarly, the shaving may be performed with any instrument. Even if one is a nazirite, he should shave. If, however, he isolated him without shaving, the isolation is effective.

(ויקרא יג ל) "שֵׂעָר צָהֹב" הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כְּתַבְנִית הַזָּהָב. וְזֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג ל) "דַּק" הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה קָצָר אֲבָל אִם הָיָה אָרֹךְ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא צָהֹב כְּתַבְנִית הַזָּהָב אֵינוֹ סִימַן טֻמְאָה:

The golden hair mentioned by the Torah must have a golden hue. The term dak mentioned there implies that the hair must be short. If, however, they were long, even though they are of a golden hue, it is not a sign of impurity.

שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת הַצְּהֻבּוֹת הַדַּקּוֹת סִימַן טֻמְאָה. בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ זוֹ בְּצַד זוֹ בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ מְרֻחָקוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ. בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ בְּאֶמְצַע הַנֶּתֶק בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ בְּסוֹף הַנֶּתֶק. בֵּין שֶׁקָּדַם הַנֶּתֶק אֶת הַשֵּׂעָר הַצָּהֹב בֵּין שֶׁקָּדַם הַשֵּׂעָר הַצָּהֹב אֶת הַנֶּתֶק. הֲרֵי הוּא סִימַן טֻמְאָה. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִטָּלוֹת בְּזוּג כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בַּשֵּׂעָר הַלָּבָן:

Two short golden hairs are a sign of impurity. Whether they are adjacent to each other or distant from each other, whether they are in the center of the netek or at its extremities, whether the netek existed before the golden hair or the golden hair existed before the netek, they are a sign of impurity, provided they can be pulled out by tweezers, as explained with regard to white hair.

הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחֹר הַמַּצִּיל בִּנְתָקִין אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁתֵי שְׂעָרוֹת. וְאֵינָן מַצִּילוֹת עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אָרְכָּן כְּדֵי לָכֹף רֹאשָׁן לְעִקָּרָן. בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ זוֹ בְּצַד זוֹ בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ מְפֻזָּרוֹת וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בְּאֶמְצַע הַנֶּתֶק וְיִשָּׁאֵר מִן הַנֶּתֶק פָּנוּי בֵּין הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחֹר שֶׁבְּתוֹכוֹ וּבֵין הַשֵּׂעָר שֶׁחוּצָה לוֹ כְּדֵי צְמִיחַת שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת. אֲבָל אִם נִשְׁאֲרוּ הַשְּׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת הַשְּׁחֹרוֹת בְּצַד הַנֶּתֶק בְּסוֹפוֹ אֵינָן מַצִּילוֹת. כֵּיצַד מַצִּילוֹת. שֶׁאִם נִשְׁאַר בְּתוֹךְ הַנֶּתֶק שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה בַּנֶּתֶק שֵׂעָר צָהֹב דַּק אוֹ שֶׁפָּשָׂה הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר. הֶחְלִיטוֹ בְּשֵׂעָר צָהֹב אוֹ בְּפִשְׂיוֹן וְצָמַח בַּנֶּתֶק שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שְׁחֹרוֹת טִהֵר הַנֶּתֶק וּמַצִּילוֹת מִיַּד הַפִּשְׂיוֹן וּמִיַּד הַשֵּׂעָר הַצָּהֹב. בֵּין שֶׁצָּמְחוּ בְּאֶמְצַע הַנֶּתֶק בֵּין שֶׁצָּמְחוּ בְּסוֹפוֹ. שֶׁהַצּוֹמֵחַ מַצִּיל בְּכָל מָקוֹם וְהַנִּשְׁאָר אֵינוֹ מַצִּיל עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רָחוֹק מִן הַקָּמָה שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת:

For black hair to save a blemish from being considered a netek, there must be two hairs. They do not prevent that categorization unless they are long enough to be bent in half, with their point touching their base. If that criterion is met, their presence is significant whether they are adjacent to each other or distant from each other, provided they are in the center of the netek and there is enough empty skin for two hairs to grow between the two black hairs that are located in the netek and the hair that is outside it. If, however, the two hairs remain at the extremity of the netek, they do not prevent it from being placed in that category. How do they prevent the netek from being considered as tzara'at? If two black hairs remain in the netek, even though there are golden hairs in the netek or it spread, the person is pure. If the person was deemed definitively impure because of golden hair or the spreading of the netek and two black hairs grew in it, the netek is considered as pure and they counteract the spreading or the golden hair. This applies whether they grew in the middle of the netek or at its extremities. For hair that grows prevents a netek from being considered as impure in every place within the netek, while hair that remains is effective only when it is two hairsbreadth away from healthy hair.

שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שֶׁצָּמְחוּ אַחַת שְׁחוֹרָה וְאַחַת לְבָנָה אוֹ צְהֻבָּה אַחַת אֲרֻכָּה וְאַחַת קְצָרָה אֵינָן מַצִּילוֹת:

The fact that two hairs grow in a netek, one black and one white, or gold, or one long and one short, does not prevent a netek from being categorized as impure.

נֶתֶק שֶׁהֻחְלַט בְּשֵׂעָר צָהֹב אוֹ בְּפִשְׂיוֹן וְנוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר וְטִהֵר. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָלַךְ הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחוֹר הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר עַד שֶׁיִּוָּלֵד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב אַחֵר אוֹ יִפְשֶׂה פִּשְׂיוֹן אַחֵר מֵאַחַר שֶׁהָלַךְ הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחֹר. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג לז) "נִרְפָּא הַנֶּתֶק טָהוֹר הוּא" כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּתְרַפֵּא טָהוֹר הוּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁסִּימָנֵי טֻמְאָה בִּמְקוֹמָן:

The following rule applies when a netek was deemed definitively impure because of golden hair or spreading and then black hair grew in it and it was declared pure. Even though the black hair disappeared, the person is pure until other golden hair emerges or the netek spread further, as Leviticus 13:37 states: "The netek has been healed; he is pure." Since it was healed, he is pure, even though the original signs of impurity remain unchanged.

הֶחְלִיטוֹ בְּשֵׂעָר צָהֹב בֵּין שֶׁהֶחְלִיטוֹ בַּתְּחִלָּה בֵּין שֶׁהֶחְלִיטוֹ בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן אוֹ בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי אוֹ שֶׁהֶחְלִיטוֹ אַחַר הַפִּטּוּר וְהָלַךְ הַשֵּׂעָר הַצָּהֹב וְנוֹלַד בּוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב אַחֵר אוֹ שֶׁנּוֹלַד לוֹ פִּשְׂיוֹן הֲרֵי זֶה מֻחְלָט כְּשֶׁהָיָה. וְכֵן אִם הֶחְלִיטוֹ בְּפִשְׂיוֹן בֵּין בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן אוֹ בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי אוֹ אַחַר הַפִּטּוּר וְהָלַךְ הַפִּשְׂיוֹן וְחָזַר פִּשְׂיוֹן אַחֵר אוֹ שֶׁנּוֹלַד לוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב הֲרֵי זֶה מֻחְלָט כְּשֶׁהָיָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁאֵר סִימַן טֻמְאָה אוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּצְמִיחַ בּוֹ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת:

If a person was deemed definitively impure because of golden hair - whether he was categorized as such originally, after a week of isolation, after two weeks of isolation, or after he was released from the inspection process - and then the golden hair which caused him to be deemed impure disappeared, but other golden hair grew in that netek or the netek spread, the person is definitively impure, as he was before. Similarly, if he was deemed impure because a netek spread - whether he was categorized as such after a week of isolation, after two weeks of isolation, or after he was released from the inspection process - and then the area to which the netek spread healed, but it spread elsewhere or golden hair grew in it, he remains definitively impure as he was. He remains in that state until no sign of impurity remains or two black hairs grow.

שְׁנֵי נְתָקִים זֶה בְּצַד זֶה וְשִׁיטָה שֶׁל שֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר מַפְסֶקֶת בֵּינֵיהֶן וְנִפְרַץ הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחוֹר (וְנִתַּק) מִמָּקוֹם אֶחָד הֲרֵי הוּא כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה שֶׁהַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחוֹר הַנִּשְׁאָר בֵּינֵיהֶן הֲרֵי הוּא בְּצַד הַנֶּתֶק. נִפְרְצָה הַשִּׁטָּה מִשְּׁנֵי מְקוֹמוֹת טָהוֹר שֶׁהֲרֵי הַנִּשְׁאָר מִן הַשִּׁטָּה בְּאֶמְצַע הַנֶּתֶק. וְכַמָּה יִהְיֶה בְּכָל פִּרְצָה מֵהֶן. אֵין פָּחוֹת מִמְּקוֹם צְמִיחַת שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת. וְאִם הָיְתָה פִּרְצָה מִמָּקוֹם אֶחָד כִּגְרִיס הֲרֵי זֶה טָמֵא שֶׁהַפִּרְצָה עַצְמָהּ נֶתֶק אַחֵר. וַהֲרֵי שֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר בְּצִדּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ כָּנוּס לְתוֹכוֹ. נֶתֶק שֶׁהַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחוֹר מַקִּיפוֹ וְנֶתֶק אַחֵר מַקִּיף אֶת הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחוֹר. נִפְרַץ הַשֵּׂעָר שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן מִמָּקוֹם אֶחָד טָמֵא שֶׁהַנֶּתֶק הַפְּנִימִי לֹא נִצַּל שֶׁהֲרֵי הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחֹר בְּצִדּוֹ לֹא בְּתוֹכוֹ. נִפְרָץ הַשֵּׂעָר מִשְּׁנֵי מְקוֹמוֹת טָהוֹר וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה פִּרְצָה כִּגְרִיס. שֶׁהֲרֵי הַנֶּתֶק הַפְּנִימִי וְהַחִיצוֹן נַעֲשׂוּ נֶתֶק אֶחָד וְשֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר בָּאֶמְצַע. וְהוּא שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַפִּרְצָה כְּדֵי צְמִיחַת שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת אוֹ יֶתֶר:

The following rules apply when there were two netakim next to each other and a line of black hair dividing them. If the line of black hair was broken and the netek covered it in one place, the original situation prevails, for the black hair that remains is still at the side of the netakim. If the netek broke through the line of hair in two places, he is pure, because the remainder of the line is now in the middle of the netek. How large must the break between them be? No less than a space sufficient for two hairs to grow. If there was a break in one place the size of a gris, the person is impure, because the break itself is considered as another netek, because the black hair is at its side and not in its midst. The following rules apply when there is a netek that is surrounded by black hair and there is another netek surrounding the black hair. If the hair between them is broken through in one place, the person is impure. The rationale is that the inner netek is not saved, because the black hair is at its side, not in its midst. If the hair was broken through in two places, he is pure, even if the broken space is a gris in size. The rationale is that the inner netek and the outer netek became a single entity with black hair in the middle. This applies provided the open space is large enough for two hairs to grow or larger.

נֶתֶק שֶׁהָיָה חוּט יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ וְכֵן שְׁנֵי נְתָקִין שֶׁחוּט יוֹצֵא מִזֶּה לָזֶה. אִם יֵשׁ בְּרֹחַב הַחוּט הַנָּתוּק כְּדֵי צְמִיחַת שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת זוֹקְקִין לִטַּמֵּא בְּשֵׂעָר צָהֹב דַּק וּפִשְׂיוֹן וּמַצִּילִין בַּצּוֹמֵחַ בּוֹ. אֲבָל שֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּאוֹתוֹ הַחוּט אֵינוֹ מַצִּיל עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רֹחַב הַחוּט כִּגְרִיס:

The following rules apply when there is a netek with a strand of bald skin extending from it or two netakim with a strand of bald skin connecting them. If this strand is wide enough for two hairs to grow, it can bring about impurity if short golden hair grows in it or its size increases. And new black hair that grows in it can prevent it from being declared impure. The black hair that remains in that strand, by contrast, does not prevent such a categorization unless the strand is as wide as a gris.

מִי שֶׁהָיָה בְּרֹאשׁוֹ נֶתֶק כִּגְרִיס וּפָשָׂה הַנֶּתֶק [עַל] כָּל רֹאשׁוֹ וְלֹא נִשְׁאַר שָׁם שֵׂעָר כְּלָל אֶלָּא פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁתֵי שְׂעָרוֹת הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר. בֵּין שֶׁנִּתַּק כֻּלּוֹ מִתּוֹךְ הֶסְגֵּר אוֹ מִתּוֹךְ הֶחְלֵט אוֹ אַחַר הַפִּטּוּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג מ) "קֵרֵחַ הוּא טָהוֹר הוּא". וְכֵן אִם הָיָה הַנֶּתֶק בִּזְקָנוֹ וְנִתַּק כָּל זְקָנוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין זֶה מְפֹרָשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב קַבָּלָה הִיא שֶׁאִם הָלַךְ כָּל שֵׂעָר הַזָּקָן טָהוֹר הוּא. וְיִתְטַמֵּא עוֹר הַזָּקָן שֶׁקָּרַח בְּנִגְעֵי עוֹר הַבָּשָׂר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

When a person had a netek the size of a gris on his head and the netek expanded until it covered his entire head and no hair was left at all with the exception of less than two hairs, he is pure. This applies whether he became entirely bald while isolated, while deemed definitively impure, or after he was released from the inspection process, as Leviticus 13:40 states: "He is entirely bald; he is pure." Similarly, if a netek was on the place of his beard and he lost all his facial hair, he is pure. Although this is not stated in the Written Law, it is part of the Oral Tradition that if all of one's facial hair falls off, he is pure. In such a situation, the skin on his face that became hairless can become impure according to the laws that govern blemishes on the skin, as we explained.

הַבָּא בַּתְּחִלָּה וְכָל רֹאשׁוֹ נָתוּק אוֹ כָּל זְקָנוֹ נָתוּק יַסְגִּיר שָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד. אִם לֹא נוֹלַד לוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב יַסְגִּיר שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי. אִם נוֹלַד לוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב דַּק טָמֵא. לֹא נוֹלַד לוֹ יִפָּטֵר. נוֹלַד לוֹ אַחַר הַפִּטּוּר שֵׂעָר צָהֹב הֲרֵי זֶה מֻחְלָט. נוֹלַד לוֹ שֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר. הַבָּא כֻּלּוֹ נָתוּק רֹאשׁ אוֹ זָקָן וְנוֹלַד לוֹ שֵׂעָר שָׁחוֹר טָהוֹר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. הָלַךְ הַשֵּׂעָר הַשָּׁחוֹר טָמֵא מִשּׁוּם פִּשְׂיוֹן:

When a person comes at the outset with a netek covering his entire head or the entire area of his beard, he should be isolated for one week. If golden hair does not grow, he should be isolated for a second week. If short golden hair grows, he should be deemed impure. If not, he should be released from the inspection process. If, however, golden hair grows after he is released, he is deemed as definitively impure. If black hair grows, he is pure. If someone comes at the outset with a netek covering his entire head or the entire area of his beard and black hair appeared, he is pure as stated. If the black hair disappears, he is impure, because the netek spread.

הָרֹאשׁ וְהַזָּקָן אֵינָן מְעַכְּבִין זֶה אֶת זֶה וְאֵינָן מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה וְאֵין פּוֹשִׂין מִזֶּה לָזֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג ל) "צָרַעַת הָרֹאשׁ אוֹ הַזָּקָן" מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהֵן חֲשׁוּבִין שְׁנַיִם. וְאֵי זֶהוּ זָקָן. מֵהַפֶּרֶק שֶׁל לֶחִי הָעֶלְיוֹן עַד פִּיקָה שֶׁל גְּרֹגֶרֶת. מוֹתֵחַ אֶת הַחוּט מֵאֹזֶן לְאֹזֶן. כָּל שֶׁמִּן הַחוּט וּלְמַעְלָה הֲרֵי הוּא מִכְּלַל הָרֹאשׁ. וּמִן הַחוּט וּלְמַטָּה מִכְּלַל הַזָּקָן:

Total baldness on the head and the area of the beard are not dependent one on the other. The two areas are not combined together, nor is there a concept of tzara'at spreading from one to the other. This is derived from Leviticus 13:30 which speaks of: "tzara'at of the head or of the beard," teaching that they are considered as two different categories. What is the area where the beard grows? From the joint of the upper jawbone until the Adam's apple. A virtual line is drawn from one ear to the other. Any place where hair grows that is from the line and above is considered as part of the head. From the line and below, it is considered as part of the area of the beard.