Then you shall cut the ram into pieces uses a word that means to cut meat. Literally “And the ram you [singular] shall cut to its cuts,” or “you shall piece to its pieces.” And wash its entrails uses the same verb as in verse 4 for washing Aaron and his sons. The same word for entrails is used in verse 13. And its legs translates a word that refers specifically to the fibula bone and always appears in the dual form. For this reason it may refer only to “its shins” (Revised English Bible) or to “its hind legs” (Good News Translation). In this case, however, probably all four legs are intended (so Contemporary English Version). The same word is used in 12.9.

And put them with its pieces and its head is literally “and you shall put [them] upon its pieces and upon its head.” Put is the same word used in verse 12. Them is not in the Hebrew but is understood. It refers to the entrails and the legs. With is more accurately translated as “on” (New Jerusalem Bible, Durham), so Good News Translation has “on top of the head and the other pieces.”

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 .