You shall count: literally “you shall count for yourself.” The two pronouns are singular in form but should be understood collectively as referring to the people of Israel as a whole. In some languages the verb here will be better translated “wait,” as in the similar passage in 15.13.

Seven weeks of years: the word translated weeks is actually translated elsewhere as “sabbaths” and has the root meaning “seven” (see 16.31). So the phrases seven weeks of years (used twice) and “seven times seven years” have exactly the same meaning and can be translated once, if the repetition is stylistically unacceptable in the receptor language.

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 .

Verses 11-16 present a somewhat disjointed text in which subjects introduced are tied together by an association of ideas instead of being handled in a logical, systematic way. Grammatically there is a switch from the second person plural (in verses 11-12) to the second person singular (in verses 13-15). Because of the nature of modern English, this shift is not seen in our translations, but in King James Version it is apparent in the use of “ye” for the plural and “thou/thy” for the singular. This kind of shift is common in Old Testament texts and is thought by some scholars to reflect different source documents. However, what is important in translation is to decide whether or not the persons referred to by these pronouns are the same or different. Since they are thought to be the same, the translation must reflect that fact and avoid confusing the reader. Some languages will use the singular throughout while others will have the plural. Naturalness in the receptor language will determine the translator’s choice.

No cereal offering … shall be made with leaven: the word for leaven (“yeast”) here is not the same as in verse 4 above. The previous verse has a word meaning “bread made without yeast.” In this verse two other words are used. The first literally means “that which is sour” (a very similar word is used in Hebrew for “vinegar”), and the second is the name of the product (yeast) that causes things to ferment or to become sour. The first term is translated in New English Bible as “anything that ferments,” which brings out the general nature of the word in Hebrew. The second term is then specifically translated leaven. After understanding the ideas involved, translators should simply translate them as naturally as possible in their language.

Honey: this word is used both of honey from bees and a kind of concentrated fruit syrup made from raisins or dates. In the context of this chapter on grain offerings, the second meaning is preferred by some scholars, but most simply translate it honey. Honey and yeast are to be understood here as two separate items and not as a mixture. However, they are mentioned together probably because they both involve fermentation. Some languages distinguish between honey found in the forest and that which is bought in stores. In this context the term for natural wild honey is clearly more appropriate.

The point of forbidding the offering of yeast and honey was that they could not be burned. Things that ferment, like the blood of the animals offered in sacrifice (see 17.11), were thought to have a life of their own and were therefore excluded from those items that could be offered by fire to God.

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 .

As in 4.13, it may be necessary in some languages to introduce this hypothetical situation with words like “Suppose that a person commits…” (see Bible en français courant), or “Let us say that a person sins…,” or “Another example might be….” Such an introduction will permit the translator to complete the sentence at the end of verse 2. Unless this or some other device is used, the sentence beginning at verse 2 might continue to the end of verse 5, and this would constitute a sentence much too long and complicated for the average reader.

Any one: see 5.1.

A breach of faith: see 5.14.

Deceiving: this term conveys the idea “to act unfaithfully,” or “to prove to be untrustworthy,” or “to show oneself to be untruthful (or, unreliable),” but in some languages it may be acceptable to say simply “to deceive.”

Neighbor: this word does not mean simply one who lives nearby; rather it refers to any other member of the Israelite community. One may say “fellow” (New Jerusalem Bible), “fellow Israelite” (Good News Translation), “fellow countryman” (New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible), or simply “another Israelite” to avoid misunderstanding. But care should be taken to avoid the choice of a word that is limited to one’s own family, clan, or tribe. And the wording should not be such that the reader will understand that it is acceptable to deceive foreigners.

The text gives several ways in which one person might act unfaithfully toward another, but the list is not necessarily exhaustive. For this reason, some translators have felt it necessary to add the words “for example” or “in cases like this:…” to introduce the four cases cited.

In a matter of deposit or security: the LatinVulgate treats these two as a single sin and this is the interpretation followed by Good News Translation. Although the distinction between these two is uncertain, most versions retain them as separate matters. In both cases there seems to be a violation of trust placed in the guilty party, who has been asked to watch over something for another person. Instead of taking care of it as expected, he has used it for his own purposes. Therefore if the receptor language has two well-known terms in this area of meaning, they can be used. But if not, a single term will be enough.

Through robbery: this is a matter of outright theft which can be easily translated in most languages, although it is important to note that the word used here implies the use of force.

If he has oppressed his neighbor: the verb oppressed may be misleading. The idea here is one of gaining something that belongs to another person by means other than outright theft. It usually involves trickery of some kind. New American Bible comes very close to the meaning with “otherwise retaining his neighbor’s goods unjustly,” although this is a bit heavy and will be difficult to reproduce in many languages. Moffatt translates “by taking advantage of his neighbor.” New Jerusalem Bible has “or by defrauding his fellow” (5.21, following the Hebrew numbering system).

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 .

Of such … one cake from each offering: that is, one part of each of the three kinds of unleavened bread described in verse 12 and the leavened bread of verse 13. Compare New International Version, which has “He is to bring one of each kind….”

As an offering to the LORD: the term used here indicates something “lifted out of” the rest of the offering to be presented to God. In some versions this has been interpreted as something that was lifted up and waved up and down or from side to side (King James Version “an heave offering”; Living Bible [Living Bible] “by a gesture of waving it before the altar”). But the best available scholarship shows that it probably has nothing whatever to do with the act of waving. It is simply a special gift to the LORD which is eventually eaten by the officiating priest while the rest is consumed by the worshiper. New International Version has simply “a contribution,” while Good News Translation has “a special contribution.”

The priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings: the officiating priest who performs the function described in 3.2. The use of the singular here, as opposed to the plural “priests” in 3.2, is due to the fact that the earlier passage is more general in nature, but does not imply that several priests are required in any particular ritual.

The direction of the action verb translated throw (or “sprinkle” in New International Version) is not specified in the text, but in many languages this will have to be spelled out. Good News Translation and New English Bible have made explicit the fact that it is the blood which is thrown “against the altar” (compare 3.2).

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 .

The altar: if necessary the translator may make explicit the fact that it is the altar of sacrifice and not the incense altar that is referred to here.

Seven times: compare 4.6.

All its utensils: that is, those articles that were used on the altar. Since there are several different items listed in this verse that are to be sprinkled, some translators may wonder whether the action is to be performed individually or collectively. If the receptor language requires such a distinction, it is probably better to indicate a collective action rather than seven individual sprinklings of items.

The laver: a bronze basin stood “between the tent of meeting and the altar” (Exo 30.18). Later in the history of the people of Israel there were more basins (1 Kgs 7.27-39), and they were probably arranged differently.

To consecrate them: see verse 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 .

So: the receptor-language rendering should indicate that what is described in this verse is the logical consequence of what precedes. Many versions have “So,” but one may also suggest “Therefore.” This is based not on the Hebrew original, which has the common conjunction that may be translated in a wide variety of ways, but on the habits of the receptor language. The opening of a new paragraph may be considered an adequate transition in some cases.

Drew near: or “approached,” or “went to,” depending on how the verb is handled in the previous verse.

Killed: or “slaughtered” (see 1.5).

The calf: see verse 2.

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 .

Behold: see verse 16.

Its blood: it may be clearer to say “the blood of the animal” or “the blood of the animal that was sacrificed.”

The inner part of the sanctuary: the inner part of the sanctuary area was the actual tent.

Certainly is used here to translate a common Hebrew construction made up of two forms of the same verbal root (literally “eating you do eat”). This construction is used for strong emphasis (compare Gen 3.4). Some languages may have similar constructions to add emphasis; otherwise, some emphatic particle or other construction may be used.

Eaten it: the pronoun it refers to the sacrificial animal and not to the blood, as one might possibly imagine on reading Revised Standard Version.

In the sanctuary: the term sanctuary is used in a very broad sense here. It refers to the whole area where the Tent of the LORD’s presence was put up and not just to the Tent itself. These words may be translated by an adverb such as “there,” depending on how the preceding context has been handled.

As I commanded: the verb commanded may require an object in some languages. If this is the case, it is probably best to say “as I commanded you.” Some versions (New English Bible, New American Bible) alter the text slightly to read as a passive verb, “as I was commanded,” but this seems unnecessary and should be avoided in the receptor language. HOTTP recommends that the text not be altered in this fashion.

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 .