When: in many languages it is difficult to distinguish between “when” and “if.” The meaning here is clearly “If it happens that…” or “If the case arises where….”

Causes a disfigurement: this expression is to be understood in a very general sense, referring to any kind of injury (see New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible as well as Good News Translation). The various types of possible injuries are listed in verse 20 below.

Neighbor: that is, “another person.” See 6.2.

As he has done it shall be done to him: the passive form in the last part of this phrase will have to be translated actively in many languages. It may also be wise to reverse the order of the elements in the sentence by saying something like “They [indefinite] must do to him exactly what he has done to the other person.”

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 .