The same transition word as in the beginning of verse 44 is found here. In this case it ties the requirement of holiness to the historical fact of the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. When the land of Egypt was mentioned, all Israelites surely thought of slavery. But since this is not the case with many readers of the Bible today, it may be necessary to make this explicit in translation by saying something like “who freed you from slavery in Egypt” or “who delivered you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

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 presents the case of a reexamination with negative results after seven days of isolation. There is no equivalent to it at the beginning of the chapter, but all the elements of meaning are discussed elsewhere. See verses 8 and 22.

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 priest shall command them: literally “the priest shall command and he shall take….” The Revised Standard Version rendering actually follows a slightly different text which reads “… and they shall take….” In either case, the identity of the person or persons referred to by this pronoun is uncertain. But it is clearly indefinite as in 8.31 and 9.21. The Good News Translation rendering with a passive verb is not helpful to those languages where passives are not used. If an indefinite third person singular or plural pronoun can be used naturally in such a context in the receptor language, then it should be used here. Otherwise it may be necessary to say something like “the priest shall order someone to bring….”

For him who is to be cleansed: Good News Translation leaves this information implicit. But the text makes clear that these actions are to be performed by one or more unnamed individuals on behalf of the diseased person.

Two living clean birds: the two birds that are to be brought must meet two requirements: (1) they must still be alive when they are presented; and (2) they must not be from among those birds that were considered ritually unacceptable by the Jews (see 11.13-19). If the receptor language requires a distinction between large birds and small ones, the word for “small birds” should probably be used here. Note that Good News Translation leaves implicit the fact that the birds must be alive when presented. However, it is probably advisable to make this explicit in the receptor language.

Cedarwood: In many languages it will be necessary to know what quantity of wood or what size “piece” is intended. While we cannot be certain, probably it was a piece that could be carried in one hand of a single individual. In those languages where cedar trees are unknown, it may be necessary to use a more general expression like “a piece of wood with a strong smell” or something similar.

Scarlet stuff: the word translated scarlet here normally refers to “dark red cloth.” The other word literally means the worm or insect (called “cochineal”) which produces a dark red color used as a dye. In this context the entire expression is thought to refer to a kind of string (An American Translation), thread (Moffatt), yarn (New International Version, New American Bible), or cord (Good News Translation) which was dark red in color. If the receptor language makes such distinctions naturally, the color should be stated as “dark red.” Otherwise the closest natural equivalent will have to be considered adequate.

Hyssop: New English Bible and Moffatt render this word as “marjoram,” but most versions retain the traditional rendering hyssop. In some languages it will be necessary to say “a branch of hyssop,” or “a stick of hyssop,” or “a plant called hyssop.” Where hyssop is unknown, it may be necessary to transliterate the word and give a full explanation in the glossary.

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 .

He shall break down the house: again, the third person singular pronoun is impersonal and indefinite. It does not refer to the priest. The expression is translated as a passive in New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New English Bible. In those languages without passives an impersonal “they” may be the best rendering.

He shall carry …: or “it must be carried…,” or “they must carry….” As above, the subject is impersonal.

An unclean place: see verse 40. Compare also “a clean place” in 6.11.

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 .

Not at the time of her impurity: a literal rendering of this phrase may be misleading. This becomes, in fact, a “time of impurity” for the woman, but it is at a time other than her regular menstrual period. Or, in a second hypothetical case, it may be the continuation of her regular period beyond the normal limits. Moffatt translates “a discharge lasting beyond the time of her period.”

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 .

He who lets the goat go: or “the person who led (or, drove) the goat….” Compare verse 21.

Wash his clothes: see 11.25.

Bathe his body in water: see verses 4 and 24 above.

And afterward he may come into the camp: in some languages it will be better to make a new sentence and say something like “Only after doing these things is he allowed to return to the camp.” New English Bible has “not till then is he allowed to enter the camp.” It may also be possible in some languages to reorder the entire verse and say something like “Before returning to camp, the man who led the goat into the desert to Azazel is required to wash his clothes and take a bath.” Or “before he is allowed to rejoin the community, the one who took the goat to Azazel in the desert must wash his clothes and his body.”

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 .

Take vengeance: this verb gives the idea of retaliating against someone who has committed a wrong. In some languages it may be rendered “Do not repay evil for evil” or something similar.

Bear any grudge against: New English Bible has “cherish anger towards.” The idea is one of holding inside a feeling of dislike for another person over a long period of time without expressing the feeling. Some languages will have a single verb to convey this idea, but in others it will require a longer expression. There seems to be very little difference between this and the verb translated “hate” by Revised Standard Version in verse 17.

The sons of your own people: this is yet another expression that should probably be taken in its most general sense, referring to fellow members of the Israelite community. Probably there is no difference in meaning between this and the word translated neighbor in the second part of the verse. On the use of “sons of…,” see 1.5.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself: as quoted in the New Testament (Matt 22.39; Rom 13.9; James 2.8), this is taken to mean “as you love yourself,” but in this context some scholars have interpreted it to mean “as a man like yourself” (New English Bible) or “as one of your own” (An American Translation). However, the more traditional understanding of this expression is probably the correct one.

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 .