The text of verses 32 and 33 is especially difficult and sometimes quite obscure. The translator must make a special effort to express the most likely meaning of the passage as clearly as possible.

Nevertheless: since this verse gives an exception to the rule concerning houses inside walled cities, it is introduced by a strong contrasting conjunction. The Levites did not own any land except that which was right around the cities that were assigned to them. Another more explicit means of indicating that these two verses constitute an exception to the general rule is to begin by saying “But the case of the Levites is different. They have the right….”

Verses 32 and 33 contain the only mention of the Levites in the entire book of Leviticus. The word is derived from the name of Levi, one of the sons of Jacob (see Gen 29.34). Originally it designated “descendants of Levi” or “members of the tribe of Levi” (see Josh 14.3). These people were given the oversight of the religious and cultic rites of Israel. The descendants of Aaron made up the priestly class (see 1.5), while others, called “Levites” (see Num 3.6-10 and Luke 10.32), were involved in various tasks under the direction of the priests. It is not absolutely essential that this term always be translated in the same way; in its more general sense, it may be rendered “members of the tribe of Levi” or “descendants of Levi.” Its more specific meaning may be rendered by a proper name based on the name of Levi (Levites), or by “servants of the priests,” or some other term indicating their religious function. In this context it is probably best to translate it by the more specific meaning.

The cities of the Levites: see Numbers 35.1-8; Joshua 21; and 1 Chronicles 6.39-66. It may be better to translate “the cities assigned to the Levites,” following Good News Translation.

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 .