Any man also of the people of Israel: literally “and any man of the sons of Israel.” This expression is slightly different from the similar one in verses 3, 8, and 10 (“any man of the house of Israel”). But the meaning seems to be identical, so it is unnecessary to search for a separate expression here.

Strangers: see verses 8, 10, and 16.29.

Who takes in hunting: this is a rather odd expression in the English of Revised Standard Version. But it simply means “who hunts.” In some languages there may be completely different words for hunting animals and hunting birds. If this is the case the logical adjustments must be made, and the two verbs will appear in the receptor-language rendering. Good News Translation‘s “catches” implies hunting.

That may be eaten: this refers to those animals and birds considered “clean” according to chapter 11. If necessary the translator may want to say “an animal or a bird which is ritually clean” (Good News Translation). This is one way to avoid the passive form of Revised Standard Version.

Shall pour out its blood: in some languages it will be clearer to say “shall pour the blood of the animal on the ground.”

Cover it with dust: the Hebrew word here translated dust does not emphasize the powdery nature of the material as the Revised Standard Version rendering would lead us to believe. It is rather a more general term for loose, dry earth. In 14.41-45 it is used three times and translated “plaster.” Here it is better to translate “earth” or “dirt.”

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 .