And the LORD said to Moses: this is a repetition of information found in the previous verse. There is no reason to repeat it in the translation, if doing so would be unnatural in the receptor language. “He said,” as in Good News Translation, may be perfectly adequate in many languages.

Aaron your brother: translators should consider whether it is more natural in their language to reverse the order and say “your brother Aaron” or to maintain the biblical order Aaron your brother.

Not to come at all times: the Hebrew is not agreed on by all scholars and may possibly mean “he must under no circumstances enter…” (An American Translation). However, it is virtually certain that the intention of the writer was “may not enter … whenever he chooses” (New Jerusalem Bible). Others have translated “he is not to come at will into the Shrine” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “he must not venture into the sacred place … whenever he chooses” (Moffatt). One commentator even suggests “not just any time” or “not at all except on the one special occasion.” Compare Good News Translation “only at the proper time.”

The holy place: throughout this chapter it seems clear that this expression is referring either to “the Most Holy Place” behind the curtain (as in Good News Translation) or perhaps to the “sanctuary area” in general (as in New International Version). It does not refer to the Holy Place marked “H” on the map of the Tent of the LORD’s presence in the introduction. Since it is taken to mean the Most Holy Place, it is important to indicate that he does not enter with the animals, but only after having brought them as sacrifices.

Within the veil: or “on the other side of the sacred curtain,” or “beyond the sacred hanging cloth” as one language has put it.

The mercy seat: the phrase mercy seat came into our English Bibles from Luther‘s translation. The Hebrew word comes from a root meaning “to cover,” but this may be understood in two different ways. It may have to do with the “covering” or forgiving of sin, or simply mean a “covering” or “lid” on top of the Covenant Box. Possibly the writer had both of these ideas in mind. The Hebrew word is kapporet and is related to the word for “atonement” in yom kippur discussed at the beginning of the chapter. The actual item referred to was a slab of refined gold placed on top of the Covenant Box and used to support the two cherubim. Jerusalem Bible translates “throne of mercy” (although New Jerusalem Bible reverts to “mercy-seat”). New International Version has “atonement cover.” Many other versions have simply “cover” (New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Moffatt, New English Bible). Most French versions have propitiatoire (compare An American Translation “propitiatory”), which has led some to suggest the common language translation “place of forgiveness.” Compare Exodus 25.10-22. All things considered, it is probably better to translate “lid” or “cover.”

The ark: the traditional English rendering ark is a transliteration of the Latin, which means “chest” or “box.” This is based on a Hebrew word that simply means “box”; yet this is no ordinary box. Although in the beginning it was a simple wooden chest, it was very special to the Jewish people because it was related to their covenant relationship to God. This is why Good News Translation has added a qualifying term and translated “Covenant Box.” Translators should be aware that it is only by historical accident that the word used of Noah’s ark and the Ark of the Covenant are the same in English. No attempt should be made to render them identically in the receptor language.

Lest he die: as in 15.31, this has been shifted to the end of the verse in Good News Translation and translated more clearly as a conditional sentence. This will probably be a good model for many other languages.

I will appear in the cloud: the tense of the verb is intended to indicate habitual action rather than some future appearance. Those languages which have a habitual verb form should probably use it here.

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 .