I will destroy: if this is not a part of direct discourse, the pronoun I should be changed to the noun “the LORD.” The verb in this case means “to put to death,” “eliminate,” or more bluntly, “to kill.” In some languages this may be too blunt, so a less shocking expression may be sought to express the same idea. But the meaning is clearly that the LORD will cause to die any person who dares to disobey the commandment to abstain from work during the Day of 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 .