Everyone can become impure from negaim, except for a non-Jew and a resident alien. All are qualified to inspect negaim, but only a priest may declare them unclean or clean. He is told, "Say: 'unclean,'" and he repeats "unclean," or "Say: 'clean,'" and he repeats "clean." Two negaim may not be inspected simultaneously whether in one man or in two men; rather he inspects one first and isolates him, certifies him as unclean or pronounces him clean, and then he inspects the second. One who is isolated may not be isolated again nor may one who is certified unclean be certified unclean again. One who is certified unclean may not be isolated nor may one who is isolated be certified unclean. But in the beginning, or at the end of a week, he may isolate on account of the one nega and isolate him on account of another one; he may certify him unclean on account of one sign and also certify him unclean on account of another sign; he may isolated the one sign and declare the other clean, or certify the one unclean and declare the other clean.

A bridegroom on whom a nega has appeared is given the seven days of the marriage feast [in which he is not examined]; [This grace period is given to] him, and to his house and to his clothing. Similarly during a festival, one is granted exemption from inspection during all the days of the festival.

The skin of the flesh becomes unclean for two weeks and by one of three signs: by white hair or by quick flesh or by a spreading. "By white hair or by quick flesh" in the beginning, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after it had been pronounced clean. "Or by a spreading," at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after it had been pronounced clean. It becomes unclean for two weeks which are thirteen days.

A boil or a burn becomes unclean for one week and by one of the following two tokens: by white hair or by a spreading. By white hair, in the beginning, at the end of the week, or after it has been pronounced clean. "Or by a spreading:" At the end of the week, or after it had been declared clean. They become unclean for a week which is seven days.

Head or beard (scall) negaim become unclean for two weeks and by one of the following two signs: by yellow thin hair or by a spreading. "By yellow thin hair" in the beginning, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after they have been pronounced clean. "Or by a spreading," at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week or after they have been pronounced clean. They become unclean for two weeks which are only thirteen days.

Scalp baldness or forehead baldness [negaim] become unclean for two weeks and by one of the following two signs: by quick flesh or by a spreading. "By quick flesh," in the beginning, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after they have been pronounced clean. "Or by a spreading," at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after they have been pronounced clean. They become unclean for two weeks which are only thirteen days.

Garments become unclean for two weeks and by one of three signs: by a greenish color, by a reddish color or by a spreading. "By a greenish colour or by a reddish color," in the beginning, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after they have been pronounced clean. "Or by a spreading," at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, or after they have been pronounced clean. They become unclean for two weeks which are but thirteen days.

Houses become unclean for three weeks and by one of the following three signs: by a greenish color or by a reddish color or by a spreading. "By a greenish color or by a reddish color," in the beginning, at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, at the end of the third week, or after they have been pronounced clean. "Or by a spreading," at the end of the first week, at the end of the second week, at the end of the third week, or after they have been pronounced clean. They become unclean for three weeks which are nineteen days. None of the leprosy signs is for less than a week or for more than three weeks.