Profane: in this context this word clearly means “to disgrace.” See verse 12, and compare also 18.21, where it is used of God.

Daughter: since the plural pronouns are being used throughout this section, it may be necessary to change the singular daughter to a plural, as in Good News Translation.

A harlot: or “a religious prostitute.” In some neighboring religions, people thought they were being pious by making their daughters participate in the cult of fertility. But such religious prostitution was not acceptable for the Israelites. In translation it is probably a good idea to bring out the religious nature of this prostitution, as is done in Good News Translation. Compare 17.7.

Lest: this may be better translated “if you do…,” as in Good News Translation.

Fall into harlotry: this is translated by Good News Translation as “turn to other gods,” thus taking it as a figurative expression indicating unfaithfulness to God. See comments on a similar expression in 17.7.

Wickedness: see 18.17.

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 .