First: the sin offering retains the place of primary importance in the ritual.

Wring its head from its neck: see 1.15.

But shall not sever it: compare 1.17. According to the wording of Revised Standard Version, this seems to contradict the preceding statement, but Jewish tradition reconciles the two acts by saying that the priest must avoid breaking the esophagus and the trachea while breaking the neck bones.

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 .