Gall: Compare verse 5. Here the gall (bile) from the gall bladder is used as an ointment. Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have the “gall bladder” being rubbed across the person’s eyes—a rather painful process. It should be obvious that the eye would be carefully anointed or medicated with gall or “bile.” We may begin this verse with an “If” or conditional clause as follows:

• If someone has white films covering his eyes, you may anoint the eyes with gall from the gall bladder, and blow on the films. In this way the person will be able to see again.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Tobit. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.