There is no indication in the text that the branches mentioned in this particular verse were to be used to build the “shelters” or “huts” involved in this festival. While this is not impossible, it is certainly improbable. It is more likely that the items mentioned here were carried in a joyous procession by the worshipers to express their gratitude toward God for the harvest.

The fruit of goodly trees: the exact meaning of the word translated goodly is uncertain. And the grammatical construction makes it possible to take it as qualifying either fruit or trees. Further, Jewish tradition has understood it as referring to citrus trees, and it is so translated by New English Bible. New Jerusalem Bible simply transliterates “the product of hadar trees.” But most versions retain a word meaning “beautiful,” “majestic,” or “fine.” In addition to this problem, the word translated fruit may also be understood in a more general sense as referring to whatever the tree produces; hence “foliage” (New American Bible), “boughs” (An American Translation), or “what the fine trees bear” (Moffatt). It is probably best to take the whole phrase as meaning something like “the fruit of citrus trees,” as in New English Bible.

Boughs of leafy trees: it is uncertain exactly what kind of tree is intended here, but it is possibly the myrtle tree.

Willows of the brook: this phrase presents a number of problems to the translator. First, the construction with of must be made clearer. Probably it should be translated “which grow beside (the brook, or water).” Secondly, there is some question as to what kind of tree is meant. While many versions translate willows (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Standard Bible, Jerusalem Bible, Traduction oecuménique de la Bible), it has also been identified as a poplar (so New International Version and New American Bible). The fact that this is completely omitted in Good News Translation further complicates the matter. But perhaps the best model to follow is that of New Jerusalem Bible, “flowering shrubs from the river bank,” or “bushes that grow by the water,” or something similar.

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 .