A bright baheres appears dull on a lightcomplexioned person, and a dull blemish appears bright on an Ethiopian. R’ Yishmael says: The Children of Israel, for whom I should be their atonement, are like boxwood, neither black nor white but an intermediate color. R’ Akiva says: Painters have dyes with which they paint shapes in black, white, and intermediate shades. He brings a dye of an intermediate color and paints around [the nega], which is then examined [by comparing it] to the intermediate color. R’ Yehudah says: Appearances of negaim are dealt with leniently and not strictly. A light-complexioned person is examined leniently [by comparing the nega] with his own skin, whereas an Ethiopian is examined leniently [by comparing the nega] to an intermediate color. The Sages say: Both [are compared] to an intermediate color.

We do not examine negaim in the [early] morning, nor in the [late] afternoon, nor inside the house, nor on a cloudy day, because what is dull appears bright. Nor [do we examine negaim] in the middle of the day because what is bright appears dull. When do we examine? During the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth hours, these are the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: during the fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth hours.

A Kohen who is blind in one eye or whose vision is weak may not examine negaim, because the Torah states: ‘‘as far as the eyes of the Kohen can see.’’ We do not make new windows in a dark house in order to examine its nega.

How is a nega examined? A man is examined [in the position of] someone hoeing and of someone picking olives. A woman [is examined in the position of] someone shaping dough, and of someone nursing her child, and of someone who is weaving on a standing loom who exposes her underarm, for her right arm. R’ Yehudah says: Also [she assumes the position] of someone who is spinning linen for her left arm. Just as he is examined for his nega, so is he viewed for his shaving.

A person may examine any negaim except for his own. R’ Meir says: Also not the negaim of his relatives. A person may annul any vows except for his own. R’ Yehudah says: Also not the vows of his wife that are between her and others. A person may examine any first-born [animals] except for his own.

Everyone becomes tamei from negaim except for gentiles and a resident alien. Everyone is qualified to examine negaim but [declaring] tumah or taharah is in the hands of the Kohen. They say to him: ‘‘Say tamei,’’ and he says, ‘‘tamei;’’ ‘‘say tahor,’’ and he says, ‘‘tahor.’’ Two negaim are not examined simultaneously, whether they are on one person or on two people. Rather, [the Kohen] examines one nega and declares it confined, confirmed, or tahor, and then examines the second [nega]. We do not confine someone confined, nor do we confirm someone confirmed. We do not confine someone confirmed, nor do we confirm someone confined. However, initially, [or] at the end of the week, when [the Kohen] confines [the first nega] he may confine [the second nega], when he confirms [the first nega] he may confirm [the second], when he confines [the first nega], he may declare [the second] tahor, [or] when he confirms [the first nega] he may declare [the second] tahor.

We delay [examining] a nega on a bridegroom until after the seven days of rejoicing, [whether the nega appears on] his body, his house, or his clothing. Similarly, we delay [examining a nega] on a festival until after all the days of the festival.

[A nega on] the skin is [confined] tamei for [as long as] two weeks, and with three symptoms [it is confirmed tamei]: white hair, living skin, or expansion. With white hair or living skin: either initially, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. With expansion: either at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. It is [confined] tamei for two weeks, which equal thirteen days.

A boil or a burn is tamei for [no more than] one week [unless it has one of these] two symptoms: white hair or expansion. With white hair: either initially, at the end of a week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. With expansion: at the end of a week [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. They can be tamei for one week, which equals seven days.

Nesakim are [confined] tamei for [as long as] two weeks, [and] with two symptoms [they are confirmed tamei]: deficient blond hair or expansion. With deficient blond hair: either initially, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. With expansion: either at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. They can become [confined] tamei for two weeks, which equal thirteen days.

[Negaim that appear on] a karachas or a gabachas are [confined] tamei for [as long as] two weeks, and with two symptoms [they are confirmed tamei]: living skin or expansion. With living skin: either initially, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. With expansion: either at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after [the nega] was declared tahor. They can become [confined] tamei for two weeks, which equal thirteen days.

Clothing is [confined] tamei for [as long as] two weeks, and with three symptoms [it is confirmed tamei]: deep green, deep red, or expansion. With deep green or deep red negaim: either initially, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after being declared tahor. With expansion: either at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, [or] after being declared tahor. It is [confined] tamei for two weeks, which equal thirteen days.

Houses are [confined] tamei for [as long as] three weeks and with three symptoms: deep green, deep red, or expansion. With deep green and deep red: either initially, at the end of the first week, [or] at the end of the second week. [The nega will be confirmed] at the end of the third week, [or] after having been declared tahor. With expansion: [either] at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, at the end of the third week, [or] after becoming tahor. They are [confined] tamei for three weeks, which equal nineteen days. No negaim [remain confined] for less than a week nor for more than three weeks.

There are [stringencies] that apply to white hair which do not apply to expansion, and there are [stringencies] that apply to expansion which do not apply to white hair: White hair renders tumah initially, renders tamei with any shade of white, and has no symptom whereby it is tahor. There are [stringencies] that apply to expansion: Expansion renders tamei with any amount, renders all negaim tamei, [and renders tamei when it spread] outside the nega, which is not the case with white hairs.