I will have regard for you: literally “I will face (or, turn) toward you.” The word used here is related to the word for “face.” This expression may well be the opposite of “set my face against you” in 17.10. Many versions translate “look with favor upon you” (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New American Bible). An American Translation has “give my attention to you.” New Jerusalem Bible reads “turn towards you.” Another possible model is “I will show my kindness to you.”

Make you fruitful and multiply you: these are the same two verbs that constitute the blessing given to the first man and woman in Genesis 1.28. They may have to be translated by a single verb in many languages. Or one may consider “I will cause you to have many children so that the number of your group may increase.”

Confirm my covenant: on the word covenant see 2.13, and compare also 24.8. The verb used here is taken to mean “maintain” (New Jerusalem Bible), “uphold” (New Jerusalem Bible), “carry out” (New American Bible), and “ratify” (Moffatt). Since the covenant or agreement was made previously, it cannot mean “establish” (An American Translation) in the ordinary sense of the word. In some languages the idea may be expressed by the verbs “fulfil” or “honor.”

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 .