On verses 49-53, compare verses 4-9 and 20 earlier in this chapter. Although less detail is given here, the ritual was probably the same.

He: this pronoun may be understood as an impersonal form, but it is more likely that it refers to the priest in this context.

Two small birds: the size of the birds is considered unimportant by most scholars. But if the receptor language requires a choice between small birds and larger ones, then it will be better to translate small birds. The word is the same as used in 14.4, although the qualifying words “clean” and “living” are not found in this context. However, these words are probably implied, since all the other elements are identical with those used in the ritual of purification for a person having had the dreaded skin disease in 14.4.

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 .