An outsider: the word here may be understood as “stranger” (King James Version). But its basic meaning is “other” or “different.” Here the meaning is certainly “one outside a priest’s family” (New International Version). Several versions, including New Jerusalem Bible, render it “lay person.” New English Bible says “no unqualified person.” And Good News Translation gives the same meaning in a more positive way, with “Only a member of a priestly family….”

A sojourner of the priest’s or a hired servant: that is, someone visiting in the home of the priest or a person hired by the priest to work for him. Other provisions had to be made for such persons who were not actually a part of the priestly family. The first word may be rendered “guest” or “someone who lives for a time with the priest.” The second term may be translated “someone who is paid to do a task (or, to work) for the priest.”

A holy thing: that is, the offerings given to God by the people of Israel.

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 .

Neither bread nor grain parched or fresh: Good News Translation has reorganized the elements in this part of the verse, but all the meaning is present and it is quite natural.

The offering: this refers to the burnt offering (verse 12), which is also accompanied by a grain offering and a drink offering.

A statute for ever throughout your generations: see 3.17 and 10.9.

In all your dwellings: this is left implicit in the Good News Translation rendering of this verse. See verse 3, where it is fully translated.

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 .

Since Good News Translation begins this verse with a new sentence, it is necessary to make the relationship with the preceding verse clear. This is done by means of the words “In that case….”

The years since he sold it: literally “the years of its value.” This may also be expressed as “the number of years that the alienation would have lasted” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Pay back the overpayment: New Jerusalem Bible reads “refund the difference.” The word translated overpayment in Revised Standard Version really means “balance.” The man who is buying back his land must subtract the value of the crops harvested from the original price and pay the balance. Another way of saying this is that he must pay the value of the crops for the time remaining until the next Year of Restoration (compare Good News Translation).

Return to his property: that is, take back his land. See verses 10 and 13.

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 .

You shall chase your enemies: that is, “You will be victorious over your enemies,” or “win a remarkable victory,” or “defeat the enemy convincingly.”

They shall fall before you by the sword: this is merely another image of victory in battle. However the focus here seems to be more on the death of the enemy. As in verse 6, the word sword is intended in the broader sense of offensive military activity. The phrase may be rendered “you will kill many of your enemies in war” or “your enemies will die in battle in your presence.” It is probably better not to shorten and combine the two expressions of this verse into a single statement, as has been done 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 .

There is a great deal of repetition in this verse which may be reduced in order to make it more natural sounding in the receptor language.

Remember: a literal translation of this verb in some languages may imply that God had temporarily forgotten that he had made an agreement with the people of Israel. But the idea here is that he would keep in mind the agreement he made and would act on it. In some cases it may be wise to translate it “not forget” or “fulfil.” It need not be repeated for each of the patriarchs, unless this will be more natural in the receptor language.

Covenant: the repetition of this word with each of the three patriarchs may give the impression in some languages that three completely separate agreements were made. But since God’s covenant with his people is seen as unique, such an impression should be avoided. On the word covenant, see verses 9 and 15, as well as 2.13 and 24.8.

Jacob … Isaac … Abraham …: in some translations it may be well to make explicit the fact that these three men are the ancestors of the Israelites, or in this context “their ancestors.”

Remember the land: this is an abbreviated way of saying “I will not forget what I promised you about the land,” or something similar.

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 .

A man: more specifically “the owner of the animals” or “the man to whom the animals belong.”

Shall not inquire whether it is good or bad: the temptation must have been great to examine [inquire] the animals and then arrange [exchange] them in such a way that the poorer quality sheep or goats would be selected for the tithe (compare Malachi 1.8). Such a practice is specifically forbidden in this verse.

If he exchanges it …: see verse 10.

It shall not be redeemed: while the pronoun it gives the impression of one animal, the subject here is actually the two animals—the substitute and the original. Neither could be bought back, if such an attempt was made. The passive be redeemed may be rendered “the owner may not buy back either one of them, because they both belong to the LORD.”

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 4-8a concern three (or perhaps four) ways of preparing and presenting the grain offering: two kinds of bread baked in an oven (verse 4); bread cooked on a griddle (verses 5-6); and bread cooked in a pan (verse 7). The unity of these verses is marked in Hebrew by the fact that the second person singular pronoun is used throughout the section, whereas the second person plural appears in verses 11-12. This is not evident in English translations, since the singular and plural pronouns are identical. If the use of the second person singular pronoun in the receptor language is taken as referring to one individual, then it is probably better to use the plural or some kind of impersonal construction, such as “someone,” throughout.

Baked in the oven: the oven was either a kind of hole dug in the earth or a hollow round object made of baked clay and placed on the ground. A fire is made under this object, and when it is well heated, the dough is inserted through the top opening and placed against the inner walls in order to cook it. Some languages may have to say something like “cooked in a hot enclosure” or “made into bread by a hot box.” Note that the use of a loanword may imply a modern electric or gas oven and should be avoided.

Cakes … wafers: scholars are not certain as to the exact makeup and means of preparation of these kinds of bread. The first was probably a circular loaf placed on a stick (compare 26.26). In most languages the use of the term for cakes will be quite misleading if used for either term. The second term indicates something more like a kind of flat biscuit which is still eaten in the Near East today. The translator should use two rather general terms, but it is important that they designate kinds of bread that are made without yeast. In most cultures there is a way to distinguish between thicker, loaf-type bread and a flatter bread like a biscuit. Possible models are “thick bread and flat bread” or “soft bread and hard bread.”

Mixed with oil: more accurately “kneaded in oil.” If the translator wants to keep the verb “knead,” it is better to make the direct object “flour” (compare verse 5) rather than cakes.

Unleavened: in translating the idea unleavened or “without yeast,” some languages have had to say something like “lacking that which causes it [bread] to rise.”

Spread with oil: or “brushed,” “smeared,” “coated” with oil.

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 .