In a most holy place shall you eat of it: In a most holy place is literally “In the holy of the holies,” so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “in the most holy place,” and Alter has “In the most holy precincts,” which is supported by Levine. But since the Hebrew expression for a most holy place is the same one rendered “the most holy things” at the beginning of verse 9, Nouvelle Bible Segond renders In a most holy place as “as the most holy things” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society Version), while New Living Translation and NET say “as a most holy offering.” Translators may follow either interpretation here. The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular, referring to Aaron, but his sons are also implied. The pronoun it refers to the sacrifices mentioned in the previous verse, so Good News Bible says “these things,” which may sound more natural in many languages than it. However if “these things” would imply that all such sacrifices are eaten at once, then another possible model is “any of these offerings.”

Every male may eat of it: In many languages it will be helpful to say “only males may eat them” (Good News Bible) to highlight the contrast between offerings that may be eaten by males only and those that may be eaten by females as well as males (verse 11).

It is holy to you seems to emphasize that the offerings in view are reserved specifically for the use of Aaron (and his sons by implication). Good News Bible says “consider them holy” (similarly many other versions), which does not really suggest this.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .