This verse and the first part of verse 7 constitute a single sentence in Revised Standard Version, but it should be divided into two or three separate sentences in most languages. A single sentence is retained in the Good News Translation translation of this verse, but Bible en français courant divides it further. After stating that the woman must “go to meet the priest at the tent of meeting,” there is a full stop. The second sentence begins: “She shall bring him….” This may serve as a helpful model in restructuring other languages.

The days of her purifying: in some languages the possessive pronoun will be unnecessary, since it will be clear that the “period of purification” refers to her purification. In other languages a translator may have to say “the required number of days,” or even “those thirty-three or sixty-six days,” instead of simply the days.

For a son or for a daughter: in some languages it may be clearer to say “after the birth of a son or a daughter.”

The tent of meeting: see the discussion at 1.1 and the diagram in the introduction. While there were women who “served at the entrance of the Tent of the LORD’s Presence” (Exo 38.8), they were probably not allowed to enter. However, their presence at the entrance both here and in Exodus 38 implies that they were permitted into the courtyard.

For a burnt offering: see 1.3 and the discussion under the section heading at the beginning of chapter 1.

A young pigeon: the age of the pigeon is not important here. See 1.14.

For a sin offering: see 4.14.

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 .