In the place of the sanctuary: care should be taken here not to translate in such a way as to confuse the reader or give the impression that the Holy Place is intended here (Exo 26.33). This expression, which is also found in 14.13, means “in the vicinity of the sanctuary” or “in the area of the Sacred Tent” (but not inside the Tent), or more generally, “in a sacred place.” See the details given in 6.26.

A thing most holy: the word thing may be too general in many languages. One may say “it is very holy food” or something similar.

It … has been given to you: this passive form may have to be transformed to an active in some languages. The Good News Translation rendering “the LORD has given it to you” will serve as a good model.

That you may bear the iniquity of the congregation: literally “to bear (or, take away) the guilt of the community.” Some commentators wish to retain the meaning “bear” and attach this idea to the fact of eating the meat of the victim on whose head the hands were placed (4.15); thus the animal became the “bearer” of the sins of the community. By eating the meat of this animal, the priests took upon themselves the sin of the community. But this interpretation is highly improbable. (See, for example, the treatment of the scapegoat in 16.10, 21-22, which is not actually eaten, but is sent away into the desert.) It is much better to follow Good News Translation and most other modern translations (compare New Jerusalem Bible “remove”), since the purpose was to get rid of the sin.

Make atonement for them: see 4.20. Note that Good News Translation translates in a single expression (“take away the sin of the community”) the ideas contained in both bear the iniquity and make atonement.

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 .