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 .

The Hebrew text of this verse is very confused, and most English translations as well as the ancient versions have made some changes in order to make sense of it. Two textual problems exist: (1) The Hebrew has no negative and reads “If a Levite does redeem….” But the Latin adds the negation which may well have been a part of the original: “If a Levite does not redeem….” So Revised Standard Version has does not exercise his right of redemption. (2) Further in this same verse the Hebrew has “… a house and a town,” but the Greek version reads “a house in a town” (compare Revised Standard Version the house … in a city). The copyist must have become very tired while working on this verse and therefore made some mistakes. For this reason most modern versions have acknowledged the difficulties in the Hebrew text and have made both of the corrections suggested above.

If one of the Levites does not exercise his right of redemption: this phrase, corrected according to what the original is assumed to have been, is still subject to more than one interpretation. Good News Translation takes it to mean “If a house … is sold by a Levite and is not bought back….” But it is possible that by not accepting the first of the two suggested textual changes (the addition of the negative) to understand “If a Levite buys a house … and its original owner buys it back from him, it returns to the Levite in the Year of Jubilee” (Bible en français courant; see also Noth’s commentary, page 191). This solution has the advantage of making less changes in the Hebrew text and follows the recommendation of HOTTP (pages 201-202).

Shall be released in the jubilee: see verse 28.

Among the people of Israel: literally “among the sons of Israel.” But this may be better translated in this context “among the other Israelites.” This will avoid the danger of giving the impression to untrained readers that Levites were not Israelites.

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 .

As in the previous verse, the structure is somewhat complicated and should be simplified in translation. One possible model is “The more time (or, years) remaining (until the Year of Restoration), the greater the price; the less time remaining, the smaller the price, because what you are buying is the crops that the land will produce” (compare New English Bible).

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 .

The fields of common land belonging to their cities: this whole expression more than likely refers to the unenclosed pasture land surrounding the cities of the Levites.

Be sold: this passive will have to be translated actively in many languages. And this will require a restructuring of the verse. A possible model may be “No one can ever sell the pasture land…,” or “The Levites may never sell…,” or “No one may buy … from the Levites.”

It is their perpetual possession: that is, they do not have the right to sell this land even for a limited period of time. This may be expressed as “it must always belong to them,” or “it must remain permanently in the hands of the Levites,” or “it must always belong to the priestly family.” This is in contrast with their houses, which could be temporarily sold to persons outside the priestly class.

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 .

You shall not wrong one another: see verse 14b. Again the emphasis is on both parties in the transaction. This seems to come out more clearly if some kind of reciprocal form is used, as in Revised Standard Version.

But: the Hebrew conjunction here is the same one that is often translated “and,” but in this case it is necessary to render it by something that shows the sharp contrast between cheating a fellow Israelite and showing reverence for God.

You shall fear your God: the future tense has an imperative meaning, as is often the case elsewhere in Leviticus. On the meaning of “fear God,” see 19.3, 14.

For I am the LORD your God: compare 18.2. The transition word for or “because” indicates that it is the presence of God that should be the basis for the Israelites not cheating each other.

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 .

Interest … or increase: these ideas are very difficult to express in those cultures where such practices are unknown or uncommon. In the first case, according to some scholars, the interest is paid regularly and then the original loan is paid in a lump sum at the end of the period. In the second case these same scholars maintain that there is no regular payment of interest in the intervening period, but a larger amount than borrowed must be paid in the end. Exodus 22.25 deals only with the first type, and some commentators suggest that the Leviticus rule was designed to block a loophole that moneylenders had found. As to the actual translation of the meaning of these two words, one may propose a restructuring that includes both cases: “Do not make him pay back more than he (originally) borrowed….” Another possibility in some languages may be “do not make him pay rent on money borrowed or pay back more than he borrowed.” It should be noted, however, that there is the distinct possibility that these two terms are virtually synonymous and may be translated by a single term.

Fear your God: see 19.14. But here the idea of obedience is involved. When one stands in awe of God and respects him, the result is obedience.

Your brother: see verses 25 and 35.

Beside you: the same word translated “with you” but meaning “among you” at the end of verse 35.

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 .

The land: in Hebrew the same word may mean “earth (or, soil)” and “land.” In other languages it will be most natural to use the word for “soil” in this context.

Yield its fruit: or “yield its harvest” (New English Bible), or “yield its crops” (Moffatt), since the term translated fruit is meant to be understood in its broadest possible sense.

Eat your fill: Good News Translation conveys the meaning more clearly. Other possible models may be “be satisfied (or, filled) with the food produced,” “never lack food,” or “have food in abundance” (New American Bible).

Dwell in it securely: this is almost word-for-word the same as in verse 18. If the receptor language accepts such repetition, the translator may simply copy the previous rendering. But if variety is called for, a synonymous phrase may be used; for example, “live there without worry” or “have no problems living there.”

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 .

This verse further develops the thought of 36a concerning interest of any kind. It is not only money that is involved, but loans of any sort (specifically food).

Lend him your money at interest: in some languages it may be necessary to say something like “Do not give him money with the condition that he return to you more than you give him” or, as suggested above, “do not make him pay rent on money borrowed.”

Give him your food for profit: as in the above case, it may be necessary to say “Do not sell him food for more than it cost you” or “Do not give him food and expect him to repay you more than you give.” The latter is perhaps better, in the sense that it involves more of a friendly loan of food than a commercial transaction.

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 .