But: in contrast with the prohibition stated in verse 2. But most English versions omit the conjunction here. Perhaps a better way to begin this verse is “Only in this way may Aaron enter…” (New American Bible) or “When Aaron enters the sanctuary, this is what he must do:…” (compare New English Bible).

The holy place: see verse 2 above. Compare also Exodus 26.33.

A young bull … a sin offering: see 4.3-12.

A ram … a burnt offering: see 1.10-13.

Another possible way of handling this verse is to put it in a negative form, saying something like “He must never enter the Most Holy Place without first having offered the sacrifices….” But since this verse gives a kind of overview of the procedure discussed in further detail in the verses that follow, it is also possible to structure the receptor-language rendering of this verse according to one of these models: (a) “These are the rules governing the way Aaron will be allowed to enter the Most Holy Place: beforehand he must bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.” Or (b) “This is the only way that Aaron can (or, should) go into the Most Holy Place: he must first offer a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering before going in.”

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 .