But: contrary to the case of normal baldness, this verse introduces the idea of baldness due to disease, which was thought to make the person unclean. The transition word should indicate this contrast.

On the bald head or the bald forehead: since both types of baldness are being discussed here, it may not be necessary in some languages to distinguish them and mention each one explicitly. The use of “the bald spot” in Good News Translation covers both cases. In some languages one may say “the place where there is no hair” or “the place where the hair has fallen out.”

A reddish-white diseased spot: same expression as in verse 24.

Leprosy: see verse 2 and the introduction to this chapter.

Breaking out …: see verse 12. The repetition of the location of the baldness may be omitted if it would be awkward 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 .

Him who is to be cleansed: or “the person who is being cleansed,” or simply “the person.” See verse 4, 7, 8, and 14.

The priest’s hand: as in verse 15, the priest is specifically identified, but in many languages the pronoun will be adequate here.

Shall make atonement for him before the LORD: compare the Good News Translation rendering, and see 12.7.

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 first sentence in this verse is essentially a repetition of information already given in verse 2. Consequently it may be left implicit here, as has been done in Good News Translation.

Body: literally “flesh.” This again refers to the male sexual organ, as in the previous verse.

Runs: or “flows,” or “drains.” Depending on how the previous verse is translated, it may be necessary to say “continues to flow” or something similar.

His body is stopped from discharge: one way of understanding this passage is that the discharge caused by the infection may block the opening in the penis as in Good News Translation. But New English Bible interprets the last two verbs differently: “whether it [the discharge] continues or has been stopped.” This seems to answer the question as to whether or not only a persistent discharge is to be regarded as unclean. But the interpretation “stopped up” is more likely to be the correct one. In either case the person is said to be unclean. This contrasts with verse 2, where only the discharge is said to be unclean.

Both the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Greek Septuagint have a different and longer text in this verse. This longer reading is reflected in very few English translations. Translators are therefore advised to follow the Masoretic text, as do the majority of English versions.

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 .

Aaron: if the reference is sufficiently clear, this noun may be translated by the pronoun “He,” as in Good News Translation.

For himself: the first occurrence of these two words is taken by New Jerusalem Bible as belonging to the preceding part of the verse: “his own bull.”

Shall make atonement: see 4.20.

His house: this clearly refers to the family, or household, of Aaron and not to any building or dwelling place. In some languages it may be preferable to say “the people living in his house,” “his family,” or “his people.”

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 .

In Hebrew verses 8 and 9 are worded in the same way as verses 3-4. They provide a resume of what has already been stated in the previous verses. But they also add two new bits of information: that the rule also applies to foreigners, and that it concerns burnt offerings as well.

And you shall say to them …: this is a repetition, or reminder, of what is said at the beginning (verses 1-2). It is quite possible to leave this information implicit, as has been done in Good News Translation. But it may also be possible in some languages to use such a phrase to remind the reader that this is a continuation of what the LORD told Moses to communicate to the people of Israel.

Any man of the house of Israel: see verse 3.

Strangers that sojourn among them: here we are concerned with the category of foreigners or immigrants defined in 16.29.

Burnt offering: see chapter 1. Even if the desire to eat the meat of the animal (verse 5) is not the basic motivation, the slaughter of the animal may not take place just anywhere.

Sacrifice: Good News Translation clarifies the meaning by adding “any other sacrifice.”

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 .

Mediums or wizards: the second word literally means “those who have knowledge.” A common practice among the Canaanites was consulting the spirits of the dead. This practice is strictly forbidden to the people of God. New English Bible translates “do not resort to ghosts or spirits.” See 1 Samuel 28.7-8. In a number of languages there are specific technical terms for various categories of people who communicate with the world of the dead. In those languages where this is the case, it is not advisable to translate the more generic terms of Good News Translation here. It will be much better to use two well-known indigenous terms.

Seek them out: or “go to them for advice,” or “ask them to help you.”

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 .

Is a medium or a wizard: in 19.31 the prohibition is against seeking the advice of such a person, but this verse condemns the person who actually commits such practices.

They shall be stoned with stones: see verse 2. This passive construction may be rendered “you [plural] (or, someone) must kill them with stones,” or something similar.

Their blood shall be upon them: see verses 9, 11, and others.

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 .