Blemish: see verse 17. This is further defined by what follows.

Draw near: this is the same word that is translated “approach” in the previous verse, but here it has no object. In some languages it will be necessary to answer the questions “Draw near to what?” and in some cases “For what purpose?” The obvious answers are “draw near to me [God] to make offerings.” In some languages it will be acceptable to translate more simply “approach the altar.”

Blind or lame: these two common physical deformities are usually not difficult to translate. The term lame, however, may have to be rendered “crippled,” or “unable to move normally,” or “physically disabled.”

A mutilated face: the King James Version rendering, “a flat nose,” is not recommended. The root word here is a verb meaning “to slit (or, pierce)” (usually of the nose, lip or ear). Hence Revised Standard Version a mutilated face, but the more general “disfigured” is better (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Good News Translation). The rendering “a broken nose” (Living Bible) is too restricted in meaning. It is also possible to understand this word as meaning “stunted” or “dwarfed” (see New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible), but the idea of disfigurement of the face or head is preferable. In some languages this may have to be translated something like “having something abnormal on the face” or “whose facial features have been spoiled.”

A limb too long: the text does not literally speak of a limb. The word comes from a root meaning “to extend” or “to stretch.” Hence, “to be too long.” But again the more general sense of “deformed” is to be preferred. This idea may be rendered in some languages as “having something abnormal about his body” or “whose body is not like that of regular 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 .