Do not go out …: the priests are directly forbidden to leave the entrance to the tent, but this is only a temporary order because of the ordination of the priests and the exercise of their functions. The translation should not give the impression that they were never permitted to leave the Tent of the LORD’s presence. Some languages may have to say “Do not leave the entrance of the Tent during this time….”

Lest you die: see verse 6 above. In this context it may be possible to translate “unless you want to die,” or as a separate sentence, “If you do this, you will die.”

For the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you: this literal rendering indicates the reason the priests are not to leave the Tent; it is because they have been set apart in the service of God by means of the oil that was poured on them in the ceremony of ordination. Good News Translation makes this explicit by saying “you have been consecrated….”

And: the transition word should indicate the logical result of Moses’ prohibitions to Aaron and his two remaining sons. Many versions have “So” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New International Version).

They: this refers to Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar. This may need to be made explicit in some languages, since the names of Aaron and his remaining sons are separated from the pronoun by a long and rather complex quotation that includes mention of another plural noun, the Israelites.

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 .