The body: is this to be taken literally, or is it once again a polite way of referring to the sexual organ itself, as it is in verses 2 and 3 and later in verse 19? Some commentators consider it euphemistic, but most English versions take it more literally here. The context of verses 4-12 seems to suggest more general contact. Instead of body, some versions simply say “the man” (New International Version as well as Good News Translation).

Again, the same ritual is required as in verses 5 and 6, if such contact is made.

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 .