Say to them …: since the verb “tell” occurs in the previous verse, the repetition of this information may or may not be necessary, depending on the habits of the receptor language. Note that it has been omitted by Good News Translation.
Of all your descendants: since the priesthood in Israel was hereditary, all the male descendants of Aaron made up the priestly class. It may be necessary in some languages to make it clear that only male descendants are intended here. Another way of saying this is “any man of the priestly family” or, as in New English Bible, “any man in your descent….” New Jerusalem Bible has “any man among your offspring.”
Throughout your generations: in Good News Translation this has been shifted toward the end of the verse and rendered dynamically as a separate sentence “This applies for all time to come.” Others have suggested that it may be translated simply “in the future” or “from now on.”
Dedicate: see verse 2 above.
Approaches: this implies at least the possibility of actually touching the sacred offerings. If the receptor-language verb specifically excludes the idea of physical contact, then it may be wise to translate “come near or touch.”
To the LORD: more naturally in direct speech from the LORD himself, “dedicated to me, the LORD,” or simply “to me.”
While he has an uncleanness: this general term is explained in verses 4 and 5. The idea, of course, is that of ritual impurity (see 5.2 and 10.10). Note that in Good News Translation this has been shifted to a more prominent position in the order of this verse.
Cut off from my presence: literally “cut off from before me.” This is similar to the expression used in 7.20-21, but it is not identical. The meaning of this expression is clarified by another that is frequently used in the Old Testament, “to stand before someone” (see Deut 10.8, for example), which means “to serve someone.” So the words “to be cut off from before someone” mean to be no longer allowed to serve that person. So Good News Translation renders it “he can never again serve at the altar.” Another possibility is to say “he will be relieved of his priestly duties.” Moffatt says that such a person “shall be outlawed from my presence.” It is not likely that the expression used here would indicate condemnation to death, as some commentators have supposed (see Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).
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 .