If several levels of headings are being used, verse 22 begins a new paragraph that may be titled “The sacrifice for a ruler (of the community).” Compare Jerusalem Bible or New Jerusalem Bible.

This verse is almost the same as verses 3 and 13 above, except that this section has a different subject.

When …: the Hebrew word used here is different from the one introducing the previous paragraph (verse 13) and the following paragraph (verse 27), but this variation is probably only stylistic.

A ruler: here we are concerned not with a religious leader like the High Priest, but a civil ruler. New Jerusalem Bible has “chieftain”; Moffatt reads “chief”; New American Bible has “a prince.” New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version translate simply “a leader,” while New English Bible has “a man of standing.” In the context of Israel his authority was limited, and his sin did not bring guilt on others as was the case with the High Priest (in verse 3). Nevertheless, because of his position of leadership, his responsibility was greater than that of an ordinary person (compare verse 27).

The LORD his God: in some languages the use of the possessive pronoun in this expression presents serious problems. The receptor-language rendering should avoid the impression that God somehow belongs to the ruler, or that the ruler is the only one who worships God. The expression may indicate that the ruler himself was also subject to higher authority, namely God’s. In some cases it may even be necessary to omit the pronoun altogether if the wrong meaning is communicated by its presence in the text.

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 .