A dull white: literally “dull ones, white ones.” The term rendered dull here is the same as translated “dim” in verse 21.

Tetter: the Hebrew word used here comes from a root which means “to shine.” It appears only here in all the Old Testament and seems to indicate some kind of harmless eruption on the skin. The word found in Revised Standard Version and many other English versions is not well known. The meaning is closer to Good News Translation, “only a blemish,” or New International Version “a harmless rash.” Bible en français courant proposes “the problem which has developed is not serious….”

Broken out: compare verses 12, 20, and 25.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .