Mediums or wizards: the second word literally means “those who have knowledge.” A common practice among the Canaanites was consulting the spirits of the dead. This practice is strictly forbidden to the people of God. New English Bible translates “do not resort to ghosts or spirits.” See 1 Samuel 28.7-8. In a number of languages there are specific technical terms for various categories of people who communicate with the world of the dead. In those languages where this is the case, it is not advisable to translate the more generic terms of Good News Translation here. It will be much better to use two well-known indigenous terms.

Seek them out: or “go to them for advice,” or “ask them to help you.”

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 .