Translation commentary on Leviticus 25:8

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 27:3 - 27:7

The organization of this whole passage from verse 3 through verse 7 may be radically altered according to the receptor-language habits regarding such lists. In some cases it may even be appropriate to number the eight different categories listed here. And in many languages, the reduction of repetition will be required. In other cases this information may be presented in table form.

According to the shekel of the sanctuary: the term shekel itself refers to a weight or a coin weighing from 8 to 16 grams. Since there was such variety in its weight and value, it was necessary to set up some kind of official standard. Thus this whole expression refers to that standard. New English Bible translates “the sacred standard,” and New Jerusalem Version says “by the sanctuary weight.” In some languages it may be advisable to say something like “according to the measure decided by the priests.” Compare 5.15.

Because the value of various currencies in the world is constantly changing, it is not a good idea to try to fix an amount in the local currency of the receptor language. Rather, it is preferable to use a more general term like “pieces of silver” that will convey the idea of something of considerable worth without setting a specific value. The use of different figures from 3 to 50 will then give some idea of the relative value of the different types of persons involved. If the term shekel is borrowed in the receptor language, it must be clearly explained in a footnote or a glossary entry. However, borrowing is not recommended.

It should be noted here that in contrast with the situation described in 25.49-52, the value of the person is not based on the number of years work he or she might be expected to do in the sanctuary. The lower amount given for the female in each case reflects the cultural attitudes of the ancient Israelites.

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 1:4

He shall lay his hand upon the head: by means of this gesture the person offering the sacrifice identifies himself as the one who is offering the animal, and in a sense he offers himself to God through the sacrificial animal. This gesture is important when a larger animal is offered to the LORD, since there may be several persons who physically bring the animal to the altar (compare verses 10 and 14, where this gesture is not mentioned in connection with a smaller animal or a bird). In those languages where it is necessary to specify which hand is laid on the head of the animal, this should be the right hand.

By using the noun “man” in place of the pronoun he, Good News Translation makes it clear that it is the person offering the sacrifice and not the priest who places his hand on the head of the animal.

Upon the head of the burnt offering: the reference is clearly to the head of the animal which is brought as a burnt offering, but the gesture is made before it is actually burned.

It shall be accepted: this passive expression will have to be rendered actively in many languages. Since the implied subject is God, it may be translated “God will accept it….” Note that in the previous verse this verb is taken to refer to the person offering the sacrifice, but in this case it seems to refer to the animal that is “regarded as good” by the LORD.

To make atonement for him: the Hebrew verb translated by this phrase appears often in the ritual of sacrifices offered to obtain forgiveness from God. The original meaning of the root word in Hebrew seems to have been “cover” or possibly “wipe off,” but this meaning may have been lost. The idea of “atonement” is found nearly fifty times in Leviticus. It may signify either the means of undoing ritual defilement or the resultant reconciliation with God, who has been offended by a violation of his laws (or possibly both ideas may have been involved). The basic idea seems to be that of restoring harmony or putting things back in proper order. In this context it seems to indicate a particular ritual gesture on the part of the priest, who is charged to announce to the faithful that their sins have been forgiven (see 4.20). God is the one who pardons, and as a sign of forgiveness he accepts the animal sacrifice. In some languages it may be preferable to give a clearer statement by saying “Then the LORD will accept his offering and will pardon his sins.” In other languages the word “pardon” or “forgive” has been rendered by such idiomatic expressions as “turn his back on sin,” “heal the neck,” or “God has spat on the ground for us.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 3:3

He: again this pronoun refers to the lay person offering the sacrifice and not to the priest. This should be clear to both the reader and the hearer.

Good News Translation adds the words “the following parts” to introduce the list which begins in this verse and continues in verse 4. This kind of addition may be helpful in other languages. Compare also verse 9.

The peace offering: these words are left implicit in Good News Translation since they have already been mentioned in the Section Heading and in the first verse of this chapter. This also serves to reduce the redundancy found in Revised Standard Version.

An offering by fire: the term is translated as “food offering” by Good News Translation and New English Bible. See 1.9 as well as the table “The Sacrifices in Leviticus,” with its discussion, in the introduction, “Translating Leviticus.”

The fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails: the fat is considered the choicest part of the animal (see Gen 45.18; Psa 63.5) and was therefore to be offered to the LORD. A literal translation, following the wording of Revised Standard Version, seems unnecessarily repetitious in many languages and may be shortened as in Good News Translation without losing any of the meaning.

Entrails: the stomach and intestines as in 1.9. The Good News Translation rendering “the internal organs” is probably too general and should be avoided.

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 4:27

Since this verse begins a new paragraph, a subtitle will be appropriate here in those translations using more than one level of heading. A suggested title is “The sacrifice for a common person.”

Any one of the common people: literally “a soul of the people of the land.” That is, any member of the community of Israel not included among the priests or leaders already mentioned (compare verse 22). On the word “soul,” see verse 2.

See verses 3, 13, and 22 for comments on the other elements of this verse.

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 6:13

This verse repeats almost word for word the beginning of verse 12 with the addition of continually to add further emphasis.

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 7:22 - 7:23

Said to Moses: see 4.1.

You shall eat no fat: the passive formulation of Good News Translation will have to be avoided in many languages. In this case Revised Standard Version will serve as a better model.

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 .

Translation commentary on Leviticus 8:19

Moses: as in verse 15 above, the text actually says “he killed it and Moses sprinkled….” But most versions see Moses as the subject of both verbs (see the remarks on verse 15).

Killed it: see verse 15.

Threw the blood … round about: see 1.5.

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 .