Peace: this is the well-known Hebrew word shalom, which indicates much more than just “calm” or the absence of war. It refers to a more general situation of tranquillity and harmonious relations between people. It is a situation in which everything is as it should be, involving the total well-being of the persons in question.

Lie down: this implies “to go to sleep,” and in many languages this will have to be made explicit, as Good News Translation has done.

None: the corresponding Hebrew word may be taken either as meaning “no one” (the solution of most English versions) or more generally “nothing” (Bible en français courant). In view of the context, “nothing” may be better if it is indeed more general in meaning and would include the idea of “no one.”

I will remove evil beasts: literally “I will cause to cease … evil beasts.” The word translated evil has been variously rendered “vicious” (New Jerusalem Bible), “savage” (New International Version), “dangerous” (New English Bible, Good News Translation), “ravenous” (New American Bible), and “wild” (An American Translation, Moffatt). A word should be sought in the receptor language that refers to animals that are greatly feared and likely to cause harm or injury to people. In some languages this idea is conveyed by “catching animals.”

The sword shall not go through your land: a literal translation of this expression may be amusing if not misleading in some languages. The sword here does not mean simply a single instrument of war. Rather it represents all the dangers and problems involved in a state of war. This phrase may therefore be translated as “Your enemies will no longer make war on you” or “No one will attack your land.”

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 .