The pomegranate of which [the Rabbis] spoke [is] neither small nor large, but of medium size. [If so,] in what regard were the pomegranates of Badan mentioned? That [a forbidden pomegranate of Badan] prohibits [an entire mixture] in any amount, [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yochanan ben Nuri says: [They were mentioned in regard] to measuring with them [holes] in utensils. R’ Akiva says: It was mentioned for this and for that: to measure with them [holes in] utensils and that [a forbidden pomegranate of Badan] prohibits [an entire mixture] in any amount. R’ Yose said: The pomegranates of Badan and the leeks of Geva were not mentioned except in the regard that they should be tithed as certain maaser everywhere.

The egg of which [the Rabbis] spoke is neither large nor small but of medium size. R’ Yehudah says: One brings the very largest [egg] and the very smallest [egg], places [them] in water, and divides the water. R’ Yose said: But who can inform me which is the largest and which is the smallest? Rather, all depends on the estimation of the examiner.

The dried fig of which [the Rabbis] spoke [is] neither large nor small but of medium size. R’ Yehudah says: The largest one of Eretz Yisrael is equal to the medium-size one of other countries.

The olive of which [the Rabbis] spoke [is] neither large nor small but of medium size, which is an aguri. The barley of which [the Rabbis] spoke [is] neither large nor small but of medium size, which is a desert [barley]. The lentil of which [the Rabbis] spoke [is] neither large nor small but of medium size, which is an Egyptian [lentil]. All movable objects convey tumah when they are as thick as an ox-goad, [one that is] neither big nor small but one of medium size. What is [meant by] one of medium size? Any one that has a circumference of one handbreadth.

The amah of which [the Rabbis] spoke is a medium amah. Two [one-] amah [measuring sticks] were [kept] in Shushan HaBirah, one at [its] northeastern corner, and one at [its] southeastern corner. [The one] at the northeastern corner was longer than [the amah] of Moses by a half-fingerbreadth. [The one] at the southeastern corner was longer than that one by [another] half-fingerbreadth; [this second measuring stick] is thus found to be longer than [the amah] of Moses by a full fingerbreadth. And why did [the Rabbis] speak of one large [amah measure] and one small [amah measure]? So that the craftsmen would take [contracts] according to the small [amah measure] and return [the finished products] according to the large [amah measure], in order that they should not come to [commit] me’ilah.

R’ Meir says: All amos [mentioned in the context of the Temple] refer to medium amos, except for the [amos] of the Golden Altar, horn, ledge, and base [of the Olah Altar]. R’ Yehudah says: The amah of the [Temple] structure [measured] six handbreadths, but that of the utensils [measured] five [handbreadths].

There are instances in which [the Rabbis] spoke of a small measure: Liquid and dry measures were prescribed in accordance with Italian [measures], which are [the same as] Wilderness [ones]. There are instances in which [the Sages] stated [that measurements vary] according to the [size of the] individual: One who performs kemitzah on a minchah-offering, and one who scoops up the incense, one who drinks [a quantity equal to] the fill of his cheeks on Yom Kippur, and the food for two meals for an eruv [techumin]. One’s food for a weekday, but not for the Sabbath, [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: [One’s food] for the Sabbath, but not for a weekday. And both this one and this one intend to rule leniently. R’ Shimon says: Two thirds of a loaf of which there are three to a kav. R’ Yochanan ben Berokah says: A loaf worth a pundyon, when four se’ahs cost a sela.

There are instances in which [the Sages] spoke of a large measure: A ladleful of corpse-dust [is measured against] a full, big physicians’ ladle. The split bean of negaim [is measured against] a split Cilician bean. One who eats on Yom Kippur the volume of a large date [is liable if he ate] the equivalent of it and its pit. The measure of skin-bottles of wine and oil [to lose their tumah] is [a hole] the size of their large whorl. [Regarding] a window that was not made by a person, its measure [to spread tumah] is the size of a large fist; that is, the fist of Ben Battiach. R’ Yose said: [That fist] has [the same proportions] as a large human head. [Regarding a window] that was made by a person, its measure [to spread tumah] is the size of [the hole made by] the large auger of the [Temple] chamber. This is [as large] as an Italian pundyon, and [is also as large] as a Neronian sela; and [is also as large] as the hole

All [utensils made from] sea [creatures] are tahor except [utensils made from] a “sea-dog,” since it flees to dry land. These are the words of R’ Akiva. If one makes utensils from something that grows in the sea and attached to [the utensils] something that grows on land, even a thread or a string, something that is susceptible to tumah, [the utensil] is [susceptible to] tumah.

There are some items that were created on the first day that are [susceptible to] tumah, [that which was created] on the second [day] is not [susceptible to] tumah, [that which was created] on the third [day] is [susceptible to] tumah, [that which was created] on the fourth and fifth [days] are not [susceptible to] tumah, with the exception of [a utensil made from] the wing of an oz and a plated na’amis egg. R’ Yochanan ben Nuri said: What is the difference between the wing of an oz and the wings of all [other birds]? Everything that was created on the sixth day is tamei.

[If] one makes a receptacle, in any case, it is tamei. [If] one makes a bed or a seat, in any case, it is tamei. [If] one makes a purse from an untreated hide or from papyrus, it is tamei. A pomegranate, an acorn, or a walnut that children hollowed out to measure sand in them or that they fixed to be the pan of a scale is tamei, for they have an act but they do not have intent.

The beam of a balance scale and a level that have a receptacle for [holding] metal, a carrying-pole that has a receptacle for [holding] money, a pauper’s cane that has a receptacle for [holding] water, a stick that has a receptacle for [holding] a mezuzah and pearls, these are tamei. Regarding [the law of] all of these [utensils], Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai said: Woe to me if I say it, and woe to me if I do not say it.