The priest shall command them: literally “the priest shall command and he shall take….” The Revised Standard Version rendering actually follows a slightly different text which reads “… and they shall take….” In either case, the identity of the person or persons referred to by this pronoun is uncertain. But it is clearly indefinite as in 8.31 and 9.21. The Good News Translation rendering with a passive verb is not helpful to those languages where passives are not used. If an indefinite third person singular or plural pronoun can be used naturally in such a context in the receptor language, then it should be used here. Otherwise it may be necessary to say something like “the priest shall order someone to bring….”

For him who is to be cleansed: Good News Translation leaves this information implicit. But the text makes clear that these actions are to be performed by one or more unnamed individuals on behalf of the diseased person.

Two living clean birds: the two birds that are to be brought must meet two requirements: (1) they must still be alive when they are presented; and (2) they must not be from among those birds that were considered ritually unacceptable by the Jews (see 11.13-19). If the receptor language requires a distinction between large birds and small ones, the word for “small birds” should probably be used here. Note that Good News Translation leaves implicit the fact that the birds must be alive when presented. However, it is probably advisable to make this explicit in the receptor language.

Cedarwood: In many languages it will be necessary to know what quantity of wood or what size “piece” is intended. While we cannot be certain, probably it was a piece that could be carried in one hand of a single individual. In those languages where cedar trees are unknown, it may be necessary to use a more general expression like “a piece of wood with a strong smell” or something similar.

Scarlet stuff: the word translated scarlet here normally refers to “dark red cloth.” The other word literally means the worm or insect (called “cochineal”) which produces a dark red color used as a dye. In this context the entire expression is thought to refer to a kind of string (An American Translation), thread (Moffatt), yarn (New International Version, New American Bible), or cord (Good News Translation) which was dark red in color. If the receptor language makes such distinctions naturally, the color should be stated as “dark red.” Otherwise the closest natural equivalent will have to be considered adequate.

Hyssop: New English Bible and Moffatt render this word as “marjoram,” but most versions retain the traditional rendering hyssop. In some languages it will be necessary to say “a branch of hyssop,” or “a stick of hyssop,” or “a plant called hyssop.” Where hyssop is unknown, it may be necessary to transliterate the word and give a full explanation in the glossary.

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 .