Shall lay both his hands: in many languages it is unnecessary and even awkward to introduce the term both when the plural for hands is used. But in other cases it is possible to use the word for emphasis. Naturalness in the receptor language will determine what the translator does in this case. It should be remembered, however, that the usual practice was to put only one hand on the head of the sin offering (see 4.4). So some kind of emphasis is desirable if it can be done naturally in the language of translation.

The live goat: it may be unnecessary in some languages to repeat the word live if one says “that goat [already referred to in verse 20]” or simply “the goat,” using the definite article.

Confess: if the usual term for this is a technical term which may have undesirable connotations, a similar term may be used, such as “recite,” “admit,” or “list.” See 5.5.

Iniquities … transgressions … sins …: in the following verse these three terms are summarized with the single word “iniquities.” They are practically synonymous here but should be translated as separate words if the receptor language has the resources to do so. See verse 16.

Put them upon the head of the goat: in some languages it may be better to omit the reference to the head of the animal, since it is the whole animal that goes away into the desert. But the more difficult problem is to understand how, or in what sense, the sins of the people can be transferred to the goat. It may be necessary to say something like “assigning them to the goat,” or “passing them on to the goat,” or “transmitting them to the goat.” In some languages a careful choice of expression for confess may help clarify the idea of a transfer of guilt.

And send him away …: instead of the conjunction and, it may be more understandable if a stronger transition word such as “then” or “next” is used in this context. The verb used here has been understood to mean “driven off” (Good News Translation) or “lead away” (compare An American Translation). But the verb “to send” seems out of place here. According to Jewish tradition the goat is taken to the top of a high cliff or ledge and then pushed off in order that it might be killed. This would imply the presence of someone leading the animal up to the last moment.

By the hand of a man who is in readiness: specific reference to the hand is not necessary and may even be misleading in some languages. The point is that a particular person was designated in advance to be the one who would lead or drive the animal out into the desert. One may translate “by the person appointed (or, chosen) for the task.”

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 verse 7 and following, the pronouns in Hebrew are in the second person singular form rather than the second person plural as in verses 2-5. But since these are general prohibitions, it is quite acceptable to use the plural throughout in the language of translation.

Uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother: this long and awkward expression emphasizes the shamefulness of the act committed but also states the nature of the offense. The fact of having intercourse with the wife of one’s own father (that is, the mother of the person committing the immoral act) was considered especially disgraceful. Both the character of the act and its shamefulness are brought out in a rendering like that of New American Bible “You shall not disgrace your father by having intercourse with your mother. Besides, she is your mother….”

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 .

Oppress: this verb, translated similarly in 6.2, carries the idea of exploitation or taking unfair advantage of another person. An American Translation translates “defraud,” while New Jerusalem Bible has “exploit.”

Neighbor: this word is used of a member of the same clan, of a fellow Israelite, or in the very general sense of any other person. In this context the most general meaning is probably intended. See 6.2 and 18.20.

Hired servant: any person who has agreed to do a particular job for a mutually acceptable price. One may wish to translate “a person you have hired for a particular job” or something similar.

Wages … shall not remain with you: a day laborer must be paid at sundown (compare Matt 20.8).

All night until the morning: since this expression is redundant, it is probably unwise to translate it literally. There are many ways in which the meaning may be conveyed; for example, “after sundown,” “overnight,” “until the next day,” or “through the night.”

The entire second sentence of this verse may be restructured to read “If you agree with a worker on a particular job, do not refuse to pay him at the end of that day” or “If someone works for you, be sure to pay him before the day is finished.”

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 .

Good News Translation adds at the beginning of this verse “The LORD gave the following regulations” in order to introduce the new paragraph and remind the reader that the ultimate origin of what follows is from God himself (see verse 1).

Curses … he has cursed …: the repetition of this verb may be eliminated as unnatural and awkward in many languages. But in others the repetition may be retained, and the whole verse may be restructured as follows: “If a man curses his father or his mother, he must be killed. He is responsible for his own death because he cursed his parents.” On the meaning of the word “curse,” see 19.14.

Shall be put to death: this is the same emphatic construction as used in verse 2. If the receptor language has no passive form, this may be translated “they [indefinite] must kill him.”

His blood is upon him: it would be a mistake in many languages to translate this literally. This expression indicates that the person who committed the act is alone responsible for his own death. The blame cannot be shared with anyone else.

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 .

That: this expresses the potential result of marrying someone other than the kind of person recommended. Marriage to an unacceptable woman can only produce unacceptable children. It will be possible in some languages to begin a new sentence with “If he does not obey this requirement, then….” Note that Good News Translation begins a new sentence with “Otherwise….”

Sanctify: set apart. See verse 8.

Notice that the Good News Translation rendering supplies implicit information at the end of this verse, since this is the conclusion of the paragraph on the requirements for the High Priest.

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 .