Said to Moses: see 4.1.

Tell …: see 1.2.

Keep away from: a literal translation of this phrase will almost certainly be misunderstood by the average reader and create an unnecessary contradiction in the book of Leviticus. It is clearly indicated in other places in this book that the holy things are to be dealt with by the priests (see, for example, 14.13). How, then, is it possible that they should keep away from them or “be separated from” them (King James Version)? There are three possible solutions to this problem, based on the interpretation of the verb used here: (1) Some scholars see it as meaning “consecrate” in this context. Hence New Jerusalem Bible translates “They must be consecrated by the holy offerings….” (2) Others feel that there is implied information that needs to be made explicit. Both Bible en français courant and Traduction oecuménique de la Bible (which usually sticks quite close to the Hebrew text) supply this information to make the text mean “Speak to Aaron and his sons about the cases where … they must keep away from the holy offerings….” This, then, looks ahead to the cases mentioned in verse 3 and following. While this is clearly possible, the third solution must also be seriously considered. (3) A wide range of different translations, including New International Version, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, An American Translation, and New Jerusalem Bible, agree with Good News Translation that the meaning of the verb here is “treat with respect,” “be careful with,” or “be scrupulous about.” It should be noted, however, that this meaning of the Hebrew verb is not found in other contexts where the term occurs.

Dedicate: here and in the following verse, this verb is the same as the one translated “consecrate” in 8.10. The root meaning is “make holy.”

Profane my holy name: see 18.21.

I am the LORD: see 19.3. Some versions (New Jerusalem Bible, for example) take this as being in apposition with my holy name. But it is probably better to make it a separate statement, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

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 .