But the flesh of the bull refers to the meat, in contrast to its skin, or “hide” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version). And its dung refers to the contents of the stomach and intestines, and all the waste of the animal. New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Revised English Bible use the term “offal.” Good News Translation just uses “intestines.” Contemporary English Version has “the food still in the bull’s stomach.” However, a wider phrase may also be used; for example, “all the food in its stomach and any other waste.” You shall burn with fire outside the camp is quite literal. With fire is obvious and may not be necessary in translation.

It is a sin offering: literally “a sin that,” or “that is a sin.” This expression uses a form of the common Hebrew word for sin, chataʾ, that is discussed at 20.20. When used alone, it means a sin offering, which is more correctly translated as a “purification offering” (Revised English Bible). Good News Translation calls it “an offering to take away the sins of the priests.” But in some languages it will be necessary to say “to ask me to forgive the sins of the priests.” The pronoun it (“that”) refers to the entire ceremony, including the blood and what was burned on the altar, not just the parts burned outside the camp.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• You must take the bull’s meat and skin, and the food in its stomach and intestines, together with any other waste, and burn it all outside the camp. This is an offering to ask me to forgive the sins of the priests.

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 .