The direct discourse within another direct quotation in this passage may be better translated by changing to indirect discourse in the embedded quotation, as in the Good News Translation model.

And: a stronger transition word may be required in many languages in order to make clear the continuation of the instructions. A number of English versions have “Then” (Good News Translation, New English Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Moffatt has “Also.”

Say: literally “speak saying.” But the use of two words for the same action is considered redundant in most languages.

To the people of Israel: the Septuagint (which is the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) and one Hebrew version of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) have “to the elders of Israel” to harmonize with verse 1. (The elders were, of course, a part of the people of Israel.) This reading is adopted by New American Bible, but it is not mentioned in HOTTP and is not recommended.

A male goat: see 4.22-27; in 4.13-21 a bull is required to obtain forgiveness for the Israelite community.

A calf: this does not refer to the same “bull calf” mentioned in verse 2.

A lamb: see 3.7.

Both a year old: literally “sons of a year.” Each of the two animals must be approximately a year old. The receptor-language translation should avoid giving the impression that the combined ages of the two animals is one year.

Without blemish: see 1.3 and 22.17-25.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .