One may not examine <i>Negaim</i> [to check them] in the morning or towards evening, and not inside the house and not on the cloudy day, because the dull [<i>Nega</i>] seems bright [in these circumstances]. And [one may not examine] at noon, because the bright [<i>Nega</i>] seems dull. When does one examine? During the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth [hours of the day]. These are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah says: During the fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth.
Bartenura on Mishnah Negaim
אין רואין את הנגעים בשחרית ובין הערבים וכו' – that we derive it from Scripture, as it is written (Leviticus 13:12): “wherever the priest can see”/"לכל-מראה עיני הכהן" – what the Kohen who is lacking in his eye-sight that he cannot see the plagues, even a day which is lacking its light, we don’t see in him he plagues.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Negaim
Negaim may not be inspected in the early morning or in the evening, nor in a house, nor on a cloudy day, because then the dull white appears like bright white; nor may they be inspected at noon, because then the bright white appears like dull white. If the nega is inspected in weak light or in too strong light it will be difficult to assess its true color.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Negaim
רבי יהודה אומר בד' בה' כו' – and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yehuda.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Negaim
When are they to be inspected? During the third, fourth, fifth, eighth or ninth hour, the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Judah ruled: during the fourth, fifth, eighth or ninth hour. Therefore it must be inspected in either the early part of the day or the later part of the day, but not at dawn or dusk. The day was divided into twelve hours. Roughly speaking, Rabbi Meir would say that the nega must be examined during the third, fourth and fifth hours of the day, and then later, from the eighth and ninth hours. Rabbi Judah says three is too early.
