Derasha 5 — Vayikra 4:27 | Toras Kohanim, Dibbura DeChovah (on 4:27 me-am ha-aretz

וְאִם־נֶ֧פֶשׁ אַחַ֛ת תֶּחֱטָ֥א בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ בַּ֠עֲשֹׂתָ֠הּ אַחַ֨ת מִמִּצְוֺ֧ת יְהֹוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵעָשֶׂ֖ינָה וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Toras Kohanim (Sifra), Vayikra Dibbura DeChovah, on 4:27 (me-am ha-aretz — even if several act) (unit 5; single primary locus per emergency Core plan).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Toras Kohanim (Sifra), Vayikra Dibbura DeChovah, on 4:27 (me-am ha-aretz — even if several act)

״מֵעַם הָאָרֶץ״ — יָכוֹל מִדִּכְתִיב ״נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת״ אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא יָחִיד שֶׁעָשָׂה וְלֹא שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁעָשׂוּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״מֵעַם הָאָרֶץ״ אֲפִלּוּ הֵם מְרֻבִּים.

English: “From the people of the land” — might one think, since “one soul” is written, only a single person who acted is liable and not two or three who acted? The verse says “from the people of the land” — even if they are many.

In the midrash: The phrase “from the people of the land” is used to counter the possible inference that only a solitary actor is liable, affirming that each of several actors is independently obligated when each performs the act.

Type of Learning

Group members each liable when each acts — when several individuals each perform the prohibited act, each brings his own chatas.

What Is Learned

If two or three people each independently perform the same prohibited act, each is liable for his own private chatas. The verse’s language does not limit liability to a single solitary sinner; once each has performed the complete act, each is responsible for his own offering.

Derasha 5 on Vayikra 4:27

The Complete Passuk

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Type of Learning

What Is Learned