The more specific case dealt with in this verse merely states one of the applications of the general rule outlined in verses 19-23 above.

Lies with her: see verse 18. The rendering of Bible en français courant makes it clear that what is involved here is sexual intercourse at the very beginning of the woman’s menstrual period: “If, at the time when the man sleeps with her, the blood of her period flows (that is, starts to flow)….” The wording of Good News Translation “during her period” seems to imply a deliberate violation of the taboo against sexual intercourse at such a time, rather than an accident.

Her impurity is on him: according to ancient Jewish thought, the ritual impurity of the woman was contagious and transmissible. As a result of sexual contact with a woman in a state of impurity, the man also became impure. He, in turn, would cause any bed on which he lay to become unclean.

He shall be unclean: in some languages it will be more natural to say “he shall also be unclean.” In addition, the word “also” may be added with reference to the bed at the end of the verse. In languages that do not distinguish between the masculine and feminine pronouns, it will be important to use the noun “man” to make it clear that the text is not talking about the woman in this instance.

Seven days: see 4.6; 8.33.

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 .