131. Rabbi Yitzchak said, What is "a white reddish sore" (Vayikra 13:42), and answers that it is an actual sore if the white is exposed and the redness does not go away. This is derived from the words, "white reddish," AS BOTH ARE SEEN. Rabbi Yosi said, "WHITE REDDISH" MEANS the white is seen only with the red, as white and red TOGETHER. Rabbi Yitzchak said THAT THE MEANING IS AS WAS SAID ABOVE. Even though the white appears, if the red does not disappear, it is a sore, as it is written, "though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Yeshayah 1:18). For when it turns completely white, there is Mercy, and no Judgment.
132. We learned that Rabbi Aba taught, it is written SOMETIMES "it is a sore" in the masculine, and SOMETIMES "it is a sore" in the feminine. AND HE ANSWERS, When the female, MALCHUT, is defiled because of the iniquities of the lower beings, it is written "it is a sore" IN THE FEMININE. When the male, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN ON THE LEVEL OF ISH, is not purified because of the iniquities of the lower beings, it is written, "it is a sore" IN THE MASCULINE.
133. The priest ascertains whether the Judgments come from the one, ZEIR ANPIN, or the other, MALCHUT, and learns about the offerings that need to be brought as it is written, "a male without blemish" (Vayikra 4:23), or, "he shall bring it a female without blemish" (Ibid. 32). For THE PRIEST finds out whence the Judgments came and whence the iniquities; whether they are attached to this, THE MALE, or that, THE FEMALE. Hence it is written IN RELATION TO THE SACRIFICES, "the sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit" (Tehilim 51:19), excluding the other sacrifices, of which it is not written, "a broken spirit," since they are peace in the world and the joy of the higher and lower beings.
134. "But if the priest look on it" (Vayikra 13:21). Rabbi Yosi taught, it is written, "O You that hear prayer, to You..." (Tehilim 65:3). "You that hear prayer" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN. Rabbi Chizkiyah said, "You that hear prayer:" it should have said 'prayers.' Why is it "hear prayer?" AND HE ANSWERS, Prayer is the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY MALCHUT, which is CALLED prayer, as it is written, "while I have nothing but (or: 'I am') prayer" (Tehilim 109:4). David said that for the sake of the Congregation of Yisrael, and as for his worlds, "I am prayer," it has the same meaning, SINCE MALCHUT IS CALLED BOTH 'I' AND 'PRAYER.' Regarding this IT IS SAID, "You that hear prayer (Heb. tfilah)," WHICH IS MALCHUT. This is the hand Tefilin (or Tfilah), of which it is written, "upon your hand" (Shemot 13:16) spelled with Hei IN THE END, AN INDICATION OF MALCHUT.