Aaron’s sons the priests: see the discussion under 1.5 and 1.7.

He: Good News Translation translates the pronoun he by the phrase “The officiating priest” in order to make it clear that the reference is to the priest and not to the person making the offering. This model should probably be followed in many other languages.

Take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil: the actual quantity of flour and oil brought by the lay person is not made clear. And while the amount to be taken for burning by the priest is not precise, probably the term handful is to be taken as a reference to the amount an average person could scoop up with a single hand. This may be better translated in some languages as “dip his hand into the flour … and take some out to burn….”

With all of its frankincense: the oil and flour are only partially used in the offering, and what remains is taken by the priests for food (see verse 3). Only the incense is totally offered to God.

Burn: see 1.9.

Altar: the altar of sacrifice and not the altar of incense (see comment under 1.5).

As its memorial portion: the Revised Standard Version rendering is somewhat obscure. The term may indicate the fact that the sacrifice reminded God of the person who brought it to him. Moffatt has “as a reminder to the Eternal.” Or it may mean “pledge” because the small part was representative of the whole. This is the meaning adopted by Good News Translation, New American Bible, and New English Bible with the use of the word “token.” In other languages this may have to be expressed as “something showing the LORD that the whole offering is his” or something similar.

The remaining flour and oil not burned in the offering could be eaten by the priests. According to Nehemiah 13.12 the tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil were stored within the Temple building.

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 .