Lie carnally with: literally “give your spilling of semen to.” This is yet another expression which, in the context of this chapter, refers to sexual intercourse outside of marriage. The expression used here is found only four times in the Old Testament (18.20, 23; 20.15; Num 5.20).

Neighbor’s wife: this obviously refers to the wives of other men in general and is not limited to those who live nearby. On the term “neighbor,” see 5.21-22.

With her: these same words may mean “by it” (that is, by the whole affair) rather than with her. This is the meaning adopted by Bible en français courant and Good News Translation: “that [that is, the whole affair] would make you ritually unclean.” This interpretation is also behind the New Jerusalem Bible rendering: “you would become unclean by doing so.”

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 .