And you shall put all these, literally “and you [singular] shall place the whole,” refers to all the parts of the ram in verse 22 as well as to the bread mentioned in verse 23. Good News Translation is helpful: “Put all this food.” But it will also be possible to say “and put this bread, together with the meat, into the hands…” (Contemporary English Version). The word for put is the same as in verse 6. In the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons uses the word for the palms of the hands, which suggests that Aaron and his sons were to be standing with their open hands outstretched.

And wave them for a wave offering is literally “and you [singular] will cause them to be elevated for an elevation offering.” The traditional translation of wave offering is now generally recognized as incorrect, so New Revised Standard Version has “and raise them as an elevation offering.” This suggests that the “food” (Good News Translation) was to be raised high and then lowered, possibly several times, in a symbolic gesture to show that it was dedicated to Yahweh. So Contemporary English Version has “Then they will lift it all up to show that it is dedicated to me.”

The singular you is used even though the “food” was to be in the hands of Aaron and his sons. This may be understood as Moses causing Aaron and his sons to raise it, and possibly even placing his hands under theirs. In any case, the next verse shows that at this moment the offerings are in the hands of the priests, since Moses is then to “take them from their hands” (verse 25). Before the LORD is identical with the phrase in verse 23. Good News Translation avoids the problem of describing the wave offering by simply bringing out the meaning: “have them dedicate it to me as a special gift.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• … and put this bread, together with the meat from the ram, into the hands of Aaron and his sons. Then they will lift it all up to show that they are dedicating it to me.

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 .