פירוש על נגעים 3:7

בירקרק ובאדמדם (pale-colored/greenish and reddish leprosy) – But this is what happens in clothing and houses as a sign/symbol of greenish or reddish defilement. But they don’t call above the sign of defilement for the four appearances of plagues that are in the skin of the body, because the four appearances that are in the skin of the body even if they remain unchanged several years, they (i.e., the Kohanim) do not declare someone to be a certified leper without white hair and without spreading and without a thin covering [of healing], but with clothing, when the greenish/pale-covered leprosy or reddish leprosy remained for two weeks even though it did not spread, it is written (Leviticus 13:55): “[And if, after the affected article has been washed, the priest sees that the affection has not changed color and that it has not spread, it is impure.] It shall be consumed in fire”/"באש תשרפנו" , for this reason, they call them with regard to clothing a sign of defilement. And similar with houses for three weeks, when the plague returns to like the way it was, either from greenish to reddish or from reddish to greenish, it is written (Leviticus 14:45): “The house shall be tone down/ונתץ את הבית,” as if it it spread. For this reason, we called them a sign of defilement.

Introduction According to Leviticus 13 clothes and houses can also contract negaim. Our mishnah deals with the signs of negaim for clothes (Leviticus 13:47ff).

לאחר הפטור – as for example, that it became faint, if it returned afterwards one burns it.

Garments become unclean for two weeks and by one of three signs: by a greenish color, by a reddish color or by a spreading. The sign of a nega in a garment is a greenish or reddish color, or the spread of the nega later on in its development.

"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. When the garment is brought to the priest and it has a reddish or greenish nega, the priest will isolate it for one week. If the nega remains, he will isolate it for a second week. If it remains after two weeks, he will pronounce it unclean and burn the clothing.

"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. Similarly, if it spreads, he will burn the clothing.

They become unclean for two weeks which are but thirteen days. Same as in previous mishnayot.