And you shall fasten it uses the word meaning “to place,” as in verse 12. It may also mean “Tie it” (Good News Translation), or “Suspend it” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). It is quite likely that you here means that Moses himself is to do the fastening. On the turban is literally “it shall be on the turban.” This headdress is mentioned in verse 4, but it is not described until verse 39. (See the comment at both verses.) By a lace of blue is literally “on a violet-purple cord” (New Jerusalem Bible), so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Suspend it on a cord of blue,” and Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have “with a blue cord.” “With a lace of blue” is mentioned in verse 28. (See the comment there.)
It shall be on the front of the turban is literally “and it shall be on the turban, unto the front of the face of the turban it shall be.” The repetition is unnecessary in translation. Good News Translation condenses it further, “Tie it to the front of the turban with a blue cord,” and Contemporary English Version has “Fasten it to the front of Aaron’s turban with a blue cord.” In some languages this will be expressed as “and take a blue cord and fasten it [the gold plate] to the front of Aaron’s turban.”
It shall be upon Aaron’s forehead means that “Aaron is to wear it on his forehead” or “so he can wear it on his forehead” (Contemporary English Version). One may also take the word always later in the verse and put it here; for example, “so he can always wear it.” And Aaron shall take upon himself is literally “and Aaron shall carry,” using the same word as verse 29. What he is to “bear” (Revised English Bible) is any guilt incurred in the holy offering. Literally the Hebrew says “the guilt of the holy things.” The idea of any comes from the later phrase, “for all of their holy things.” This refers to “any faults in the sacred offerings” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “some error in offering them” (Good News Translation), that may be committed accidentally, either by “the people” (Good News Translation) or by Aaron himself, when making these offerings. The guilt incurred, then, refers to the condemnation by Yahweh as a result of such errors. In some languages this will be referred to as “carry the weight of,” or even “take responsibility for.” Revised English Bible has “he has to bear the blame for defects in the rites with which the Israelites offer their sacred gifts.”
Which the people of Israel hallow is literally “which the sons of Israel consecrate [or, make holy].” The which refers to the holy offering, not to the guilt. As their holy gifts is literally “for all gifts of their holy things.” The idea of “all gifts” is expressed in Revised Standard Version by the earlier phrase, any guilt incurred.
It shall always be upon his forehead repeats what is said at the beginning of the verse, with the addition of always. Good News Translation omits the always as unnecessary, evidently on the assumption that Aaron would wear this turban with the gold ornament only when serving as priest. The emphasis in the Hebrew, however, seems to be intentional, so the idea of always should be carried over in the translation.
That they may be accepted before the LORD is literally “for favor to them to the face of Yahweh.” New Revised Standard Version has “in order that they may find favor before the LORD.” The they refers to the holy gifts, not to the people. Good News Translation makes this clear by changing they to “all the offerings.” And since Yahweh is speaking, Good News Translation also changes the third person to first person, “so that I, the LORD, will accept all the offerings that the Israelites dedicate to me.”
A possible alternative translation model for verses 37 and 38 is:
• You shall take a blue cord and fasten this gold band [or plate, or ornament] to the front of Aaron’s turban, so that he may always wear it on his forehead. This will show that he accepts the guilt [or blame, or responsibility] of any sins that the people of Israel commit when they offer gifts to me, and I will accept their gifts.
Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .