Presented: since the offering was not actually burned at this point (see verse 24), it may be better to translate this verb “brought forward” (New Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible).

The burnt offering: this is singular in form but may have a collective meaning referring to the “calf” and the “lamb” mentioned in verse 3. It is thus interpreted by Bible en français courant and rendered “the two animals.” But others use a singular form (as “the animal” in Good News Translation) and therefore seem to take it as referring to the “ram” mentioned in verse 2. But since verse 12 indicates that Aaron’s burnt offering has already been killed, it seems more reasonable to take it as referring to the two animals (“a calf and a lamb” of verse 2) designated as the burnt offering for the people. Following Good News Translation too closely at this point may therefore be misleading for other languages.

The ordinance: see 5.10.

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 .