Shall sprinkle …: compare verse 14.

His finger seven times: see 4.6.

Cleanse it: Good News Translation adds “In this way” at the beginning of a new sentence in order to make clear that the ritual of purification is not a new and different act, but that it is actually performed by the sprinkling of blood on the altar.

Hallow it: this is the same verb that is often translated “sanctify” elsewhere. It may also be rendered “consecrate” or “make holy.” Bible en français courant has “restore its sacred character.”

From the uncleannesses of the people of Israel: grammatically this phrase depends on the two preceding verbs, cleanse and hallow (as in Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible relate it more directly to the first of these verbs. The proximity of the sinful Israelites to the altar contaminated it little by little and made it necessary to have a ceremony to reestablish the proper state required for it to be used in relationship to God. As in verse 16, the plural uncleannesses seems to have no special significance.

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 .