Anointed: see Exodus 30.22-33. Up to this point in Leviticus, only the priests have been anointed. Now this verb is applied to the Tent and all the various objects in it (see diagram at the end of the introduction, “Translating Leviticus”). In some languages a different word may be required for human beings and inanimate objects. But a general word like “put it [the oil] on…” may be preferable, and in some languages a verb like “sprinkle” (as in the following verse) may be necessary.

The tabernacle: in Leviticus the term ordinarily used is “tent of meeting,” but here as well as in 15.31 and 17.4 we find a different word. In this case the root meaning is “the dwelling place.” It is often used elsewhere in the Old Testament to refer to the place where God manifests his presence among human beings. Some commentators have supposed that this term is used to refer to the entire sanctuary area, including the courtyard. The translator may wish to use an expression like “the dwelling place of God” or “the place where God shows himself (or, meets with people),” but it is important not to give the impression that a place other than the “tent of meeting” or “Tent of the LORD’s presence” is intended. Some scholars feel that the terms for “sanctuary,” “tent of meeting,” and “tabernacle” should be translated differently because they are thought to come from different traditions. (See Noel Osborn, 1990, “Tent or tabernacle? Translating two traditions,” The Bible Translator 41:214-221.)

Consecrated them: the pronoun them refers to the Tent of the LORD’s presence and everything it contained. In some cases it may be clearer to make explicit the fact that they are consecrated “to the LORD,” as in Good News Translation. The rendering consecrated here and in verses 11 and 12 is not based on the same Hebrew word as “consecrate” in Revised Standard Version at 7.35. The parent noun of the verb here is related to the word for “holy” and is thus rendered “sanctify” in King James Version. It indicates a state of belonging to the realm of the sacred, that is, to God himself. In some languages it may be rendered by a causative form, but in others it will have to be translated more dynamically in this context by something like “and in this way he showed that they belonged to the LORD.”

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 .