Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and consecrate it is literally “Seven days you [singular] shall cover over upon the altar and you shall make it holy.” This refers back to the two acts in verse 36—the sacrifice of the young bull and the anointing of the altar. Since this repeats what has just been said, Good News Translation has “Do this every day for seven days.” And the altar shall be most holy is literally “and it shall be holy of holy things.” This expression is identical with “the holy of holies” in 26.33, except that the definite article “the” is not used.

Whatever touches the altar is literally “any toucher on the altar.” The participle does not distinguish between human, animal, or thing, so Good News Translation has “and anyone or anything that touches it.” Shall become holy, literally “he [or, it] shall be holy,” suggests that “holiness” was considered to be contagious. This may be understood as either positive or negative taboo (or, holiness). New American Bible has “will become sacred.” But Good News Translation takes it as a warning, “will be harmed by the power of its holiness.” (See Good News Translation footnote.) And Moffatt has “whoever touches the altar is doomed.” Revised English Bible takes a neutral position, “must be treated as holy.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Do this for seven days, and the altar will become so holy [or, taboo] that anyone or anything that touches it will become holy [or, taboo].

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 .