Whoever compounds any like it is literally “A man who mixes like it.” The same verb is used in verse 25 with the associated meaning of mixing perfume, so New International Version has “Whoever makes perfume like it” (similarly New American Bible and Revised English Bible). The text, however, focuses on its use as anointing oil, not as a perfume. Or whoever puts any of it on an outsider is literally “and [a man] who puts from it upon a strange [person].” For outsider see the comment at 29.33. New International Version has “on anyone other than a priest,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “on a layman.”

Shall be cut off from his people is quite literal. The word for cut off is a strong word, with the meaning of “ostracized” (Durham), or “outlawed” (Translator’s Old Testament, New Jerusalem Bible). From his people may be understood as “from his father’s kin” (Revised English Bible), or simply as “from the people” (New Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation correctly interprets it to refer to the Israelites in general, and changes the pronoun: “will no longer be considered one of my people,” meaning Yahweh’s people. In languages that do not use the passive voice, one may say “I [Yahweh] will no longer consider that person one of my people.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .