ויקרא, פרק כ״א, פסוק כ׳

The requirements for a priest serving in the Sanctuary include a state of physical wholeness, reflecting the profound sanctity of the Divine service. The comprehensive list of physical blemishes that disqualify a priest is arranged in a deliberate progression. It moves from missing limbs and broken bones to purely aesthetic defects, skin diseases, and ultimately internal flaws [הטור הארוך, רש״ר הירש]. Interestingly, some of these conditions neither cause pain nor hinder physical function, yet their prominent visibility alters a person's natural appearance, rendering them unfit for this specific role [ביאור שטיינזלץ, העמק דבר].

When addressing certain physical anomalies, commentators debate whether they relate to the overall skeletal structure or specifically to the face and eyes. For instance, one condition is understood by some as a spinal deformity, specifically a hunchback [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, מלבי״ם, פירושי רד״צ הופמן]. Conversely, the primary approach among commentators identifies this as a defect of the eyebrows. This could manifest as excessively long hair falling over the eyes, brows that are completely fused together without a gap, or a total absence of eyebrow hair [רש״י, הטור הארוך, תורה תמימה, רלב״ג]. Similarly, another blemish is interpreted by some as describing a person who is a dwarf, unusually short, or severely emaciated [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, ביאור יש״ר]. However, many commentators explain that this refers to a defect within the eye itself, such as a thin membrane, a cloudy spot, or a sunken indentation that partially covers the eye and impairs vision [רש״י, מזרחי, תורה תמימה, רלב״ג].

Continuing with visual anomalies, another blemish involves a defect that distorts the natural appearance of the eye. Most commentators agree this occurs when a white thread or spot extends from the white of the eye, crossing the boundary into the dark pupil to create a mixed or blurred appearance [רש״י, מזרחי, תורה תמימה, רלב״ג]. Some compare the shape of this defect to a worm or a snail [רש״י, שד״ל, גור אריה], while others associate it more broadly with a corrupted physical state [אבן עזרא, חזקוני]. Furthermore, an asymmetrical alignment, such as eyes that point in different directions—making the priest appear to be looking at someone else while speaking to the person directly in front of him—is also considered a disqualifying blemish [תורה תמימה, מלבי״ם]. To ensure comprehensive coverage, three distinct categories of visual blemishes are detailed: total blindness, partial impairment caused by a membrane, and purely aesthetic defects that merely alter the eye's appearance without necessarily diminishing sight [מזרחי, תורה תמימה, גור אריה].

The criteria then transition to severe skin diseases. One such affliction is a completely dry boil or lesion, dry on both the inside and outside, which is accompanied by severe itching [רש״י, מזרחי, רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר]. In contrast, another condition, often identified as a form of Egyptian lichen, is characterized by being moist on the surface but dry underneath. Its name reflects its nature, as it stubbornly clings to the afflicted individual without any known cure until the day of their death [רש״י, מזרחי, תורה תמימה, אבן עזרא].

Finally, the list concludes with damage to the male reproductive organs, a blemish that may not even be visible from the outside [ברכת אשר על התורה]. There are three main approaches to understanding the exact nature of this injury. The first suggests that the testicles have been crushed, mashed, or otherwise physically wounded [רשב״ם, מזרחי, רלב״ג, חזקוני]. A second approach explains that the area is swollen with trapped air or bodily fluids, similar to a hernia [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, שד״ל, פירושי רד״צ הופמן]. The third perspective interprets this as either the absence of one testicle or an abnormal condition where the skin in that area has become unusually dark and blackened [תורה תמימה, מלבי״ם].