Vayikra 15:12

12 And the clay pottery, that he toucheth which hath the discharge, shall be broken; and every wooden vessel shall be rinsed in mayim.

Vayikra 15:12 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 15:12

And the vessel of earth that he toucheth which hath an issue
shall be broken
That it might not be made use of afterwards; which was ordered, that they might be careful what they touched who were in such circumstances: according to Gersom an earthen vessel received no uncleanness but from the middle, though he owns the law does not distinguish between the middle and the outside; wherefore Jarchi is of opinion, that if the back or outside of it was touched, it was unclean, and to be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water;
and after that be used: what should be the reason why an earthen vessel defiled by touching should be broken, and a wooden vessel defiled in the same way should not, but be rinsed and cleansed, when an earthen vessel might as well be rinsed and fit for use as that, is not easy to say; it depended upon the will of the lawgiver: according to Ainsworth, the one may signify the destruction of reprobate persons, the other the cleansing of penitent sinners.

Vayikra 15:12 In-Context

10 And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him shall be tamei until the erev; and he that picks up any of those things shall immerse his garments, and immerse himself in mayim, and be tamei until the erev.

11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the discharge, and hath not rinsed his hands in mayim, he shall immerse his garments, and immerse himself in mayim, and be tamei until the erev.

12 And the clay pottery, that he toucheth which hath the discharge, shall be broken; and every wooden vessel shall be rinsed in mayim.

13 And when he that hath a discharge is made tahor of his discharge; then he shall number to himself seven days for his tohorah (cleansing), and immerse his garments, and immerse his basar in running mayim, and shall be tahor.

14 And on the yom shemini he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before Hashem unto the entrance of the Ohel Mo’ed, and give them unto the kohen;