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 .

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 .

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 .

Verses 9-12 deal with creatures of the sea, and so a new paragraph should begin here. The structure of the first sentence is awkward and may be reformulated in a way that is natural in the receptor language. The structure may be parallel to verse 2b, where the land animals are first introduced. For example, “These are the sea creatures that you are allowed to eat….” It may also be necessary to eliminate some of the redundant material such as the second occurrence of in the waters or of you may eat. The phrase whether in the seas or in the rivers is left implicit in this verse in Good News Translation, and its second occurrence (in the following verse) is summarized as “living in the water,” perhaps in order not to exclude oceans and lakes.

Fins and scales: these two characteristics were essential for a sea creature to be considered acceptable by the Jews. In cultures where such terminology is lacking, fins may be rendered by “flapping things” or “things which cause to move,” or in some cases “wings,” “arms,” or “hands.” Scales may be “things which cover the skin” in some languages.

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 .

This verse corresponds to verses 2b and 4, where the birth of a male child is considered.

But: since there is a contrast between what happens after the birth of a son and the birth of a daughter, it is a good idea to include a transition word in the receptor language at this point. Several versions begin a new paragraph at this point to indicate that a different subject is being considered (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and New Jerusalem Bible).

A female child: literally “a female.” In many languages it will be more natural to use a term meaning “daughter,” as in Good News Translation.

Two weeks: this is the plural form of the same word translated in verse 2 as “seven days” or “a week.” The birth of a daughter required the doubling of the time period.

As in her menstruation: see verse 2. Here the comparison cannot be with the length of time, but only on the consequences of her uncleanness. For this reason it may be better to restructure as follows: “she is unclean as during her monthly period, but for twice as long (or, for two weeks, or, for fourteen days).”

For sixty-six days: this period is also twice as long as required after the birth of a son. Since it is in addition to the fourteen days already mentioned, it may be better to say “sixty-six more days,” as in Good News Translation.

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 .

Compare verse 6.

Examine: better, “reexamine” or “examine again.”

Wash his clothes: see 11.25.

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 10-20 describe the part of the purification ritual which reestablishes the relationship between the formerly diseased person and God.

Two male lambs without blemish …: New English Bible follows a different Hebrew text and adds here “yearling,” but this is not recommended by HOTTP.

Without blemish: see 1.3 and 22.17-25.

Three tenths of an ephah: Good News Translation has “five pounds” in the American edition, but the British edition has “three kilograms,” and Bible en français courant has “nine kilograms.” The New Jerusalem Bible footnote estimates that the amount is 13.5 liters, while the New International Version footnote has 6.5 liters. The exact equivalent of this amount is obviously uncertain. Some commentators speculate that three tenths were necessary because there were three lambs, but the evidence for this is less than conclusive. The receptor language should translate as naturally as possible, using whatever measuring system is normally used of dry substances like flour. Compare 5.11 and 6.20 as well as Exodus 16.36 and Ruth 2.17.

Fine flour: see 2.1.

One log of oil: as usual, this refers to olive oil. The most natural term used in measuring liquids should be employed here. It should be the equivalent of about “a third of a liter” (British Good News Translation) or “half a pint” (American Good News Translation). The same amount is also used in verses 12, 15, 21, and 24.

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 .