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This pasuk seems superfluous. Obviously, if the disease still plagues the individual, he is deemed unclean! The Netziv explains that one might assume that after performing the ritual of cleansing oneself and observing the rites of the metzora (leper), he would now be permitted to return to a state of purity, even though the disease is still in him. Indeed, one is not viewed as a true baal teshuva (penitent) until after he has altered his offending previous habits. Superficial acts of penance, going through the external motions of performing teshuva, are insufficient. True teshuva begins with acknowledgment of one’s…

It is a well known fact that these plagues were manifestations of Divine Justice meted out for sins which were either the effect of an evil-tongue or associated with sinful speech. Bearos Yitzchak suggest the following rationale for these plagues constructing the specific form of punishment for sinful speech. Man is distinguished from all other creations by his ability to express himself through the medium of speech. In fact, the term “one who speaks” is used to describe human beings. In contrast to all other creations, man’s power of speech is an inherent part of his essence. This may be…