[Regarding] water that became unfit for an animal to drink, [if it is] in vessels, it is invalid. But [if it is] in the ground, it is valid. [If] ink, gum, or copperas fell into [the water] and its color changed, it is invalid. If one used [the water] for [any manner of] work or [if] he soaked in it his bread, it is invalid. Shimon the Timnite says: If he intended to soak it in this [water] and it fell into a different [water], it is valid.

If one rinsed utensils in [the water] or if he scrubbed measures with [the water], it is invalid. [However,] if he rinsed in [the water] utensils that were already rinsed or that were new, [the water] is valid. R’ Yose invalidates [the water] in the case of new [utensils].

The water into which the baker dips the rolls is invalid. But if he rinses his hands in it, it is valid. Everyone is qualified to pour [water] on hands, even a deaf-mute, an imbecile, or a minor. One may place a barrel between his knees and wash [his hands from it]. One may turn a barrel on its side and wash [his hands from it]. And an ape may pour [water over the hands]. R’ Yose invalidates [the netilah] in these [last] two [cases]

[If one] washed one hand with a single rinse, his hand is tahor. [But] as regards two hands with a single rinse, R’ Meir rules them tamei, unless he washes them with a reviis [of water]. If a loaf of terumah fell [into the water], it is tahor. R’ Yose rules it tamei.

[If one] poured the first [waters] in one place and the [second] waters in a different place, and a loaf of terumah fell, [if it fell] into the first [waters], it is tamei. But [if it fell] into the second [waters], it is tahor. [If he] poured the first and second [waters] in one place and a loaf of terumah fell [there], it is tamei. [If one] poured the first [waters] and a splinter or gravel was found on his hands, his hands are tamei, because the last waters purify only the waters that were on the hand. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: [Regarding] any [organism] that originates in the water, it is tahor.

Hands become tamei and become tahor [only] up to the joint. How so? [If] one poured the first [waters] until the joint and the second [waters] beyond the joint, and they returned to the hand, [his hand] is tahor. [If] one poured the first and the second [waters] beyond the joint and they returned to the hand, [his hand] is tamei. [If] one poured the first [waters] on one hand, and he changed his mind and poured the second [waters] on both hands, [his hands] are tamei. [If] one poured the first [waters] over both hands and he changed his mind and poured the second [waters] over one hand, his hand is tahor. [If] one poured water over one hand, and he rubbed it on the other, it is tamei. [If he rubbed it] on his head or on a wall, it is tahor. Four or five [people] can wash [their hands] side by side or one above the other, provided that they loosen [their hands] so that the water can enter between them.

[If it is] uncertain whether work was done with [the water] or work was not done with it, [or it is] uncertain whether [the water] has the [requisite] amount or it does not have the [requisite] amount, [or it is] uncertain whether [the water] is tamei or tahor, these uncertainties are [ruled] tahor, for they said: An uncertainty pertaining to hands, [whether] with regard to becoming tamei, or to conveying tumah, or to becoming tahor, is [ruled] tahor. R’ Yose says: [A case of uncertainty whether] they became tahor is [ruled] tamei. How so? A person’s hands were tahor and before him were two tamei loaves, [and it is] uncertain whether he touched [them] or he did not touch [them]; [or] his hands were tamei, and before him were two tahor loaves, [and it is] uncertain whether he touched [them] or he did not touch [them]; [or] one of his hands was tamei and one was tahor, and before him were two tahor loaves, [and] he touched one of them, [but it is] uncertain whether he touched it with the tamei [hand] or with the tahor [hand]; [or] his hands were tahor and before him were two loaves, one of which was tamei and the other tahor, and he touched one of them, [but it is] uncertain whether he touched the tamei one or he touched the tahor one; [or] one of his hands was tamei and one was tahor, and before him were two loaves, one of which was tamei and the other tahor, [and] he touched both of them, [but it is] uncertain whether the tamei [hand touched] the tamei [loaf] and the tahor [hand touched] the tahor [loaf], or the tahor [hand touched] the tamei [loaf] and the tamei [hand touched] the tahor [loaf]; the hands [remain] as they were and the loaves [remain] as they were.

[Regarding] one who inserts his hands into a house afflicted [with tzaraas], his hands are [tamei to the] first degree, [these are]the words of R’ Akiva. [But] the Sages say: His hands are [tamei to the degree of] sheni. Anyone who renders clothes tamei during the time of his contact [with a source of tumah] renders hands tamei, [causing them] to become [tamei to the] first degree, [these are] the words of R’ Akiva. But the Sages say: [He causes them] to become [tamei to the degree of] sheni. They said to R’ Akiva: Where do we find anywhere that hands are first degree [of tumah]? He said to them: How is it possible for them to be first degree [of tumah] unless his [entire] body becomes tamei, besides these [cases]? Food and articles that became tamei from liquids render hands tamei, [causing them] to become [tamei to the degree of] sheni, [these are] the words of R’ Yehoshua. But the Sages say: That which became tamei through [contact with] an av hatumah renders hands tamei. [But that which became tamei] through [contact with] derived tumah does not render hands tamei. R’ Shimon ben Gamliel said: There was an incident concerning a woman who came before my father. She said to him, ‘‘My hands entered into the airspace of an earthenware vessel.’’ He said to her, ‘‘My daughter, what was [the source of] its tumah?’’ But I did not hear what she said to him. The Sages said: The matter is clear. That which became tamei through an av hatumah renders hands tamei. [But that which became tamei] through derived tumah does not render hands tamei.

Anything that disqualifies terumah renders hands tamei, [causing them] to become [tamei to the degree of] sheni. One hand can render its pair tamei, [these are] the words of R’ Yehoshua. But the Sages say: A sheni does not create [another] sheni. He said to them: But are not kisvei kodesh [tamei to the degree of] sheni, [and yet] they render hands tamei? They said to him: We cannot deduce words of the Torah from words of the Scribes, nor words of the Scribes from words of the Torah, nor words of the Scribes from words of the Scribes.