The horns of the altar: while the Hebrew term is the same as the one used to refer to the horns of animals (cattle or oxen, for example), it is not necessary to retain this image in translation. In some languages this may be the natural thing to do, but in others it will probably be preferable to use a word like “projections” (Good News Translation), or “knobs” (Moffatt), or “protruding corners.” Some scholars maintain that the horns were intended to represent the animals sacrificed, but others feel that they originally functioned as points on which cooking utensils rested (see 1 Sam 2.14).

The altar of fragrant incense: the writer carefully distinguishes the incense altar from the altar of sacrifice which is at the entrance to the Tent of the LORD’s presence (see diagram on page 8 and the discussion under 1.5). On the terms for incense, see 2.1.

Before the LORD: the phrase is again repeated for emphasis, and unless the repetition is considered awkward, it should probably also be repeated in the receptor language.

Pour out: this is the ordinary word for pouring; it is not the same as “tossing” (in 1.5, 11; 3.2 and elsewhere) or “sprinkling” (in 4.6 above).

At the base of the altar: elsewhere the word translated base means “foundation” (Micah 1.6; Psa 137.7) or “beginning.” Here it refers to the bottom part of the altar. It may be equally well translated “at the foundation of the altar.” New Jerusalem Bible has “at the foot of the altar….”

Altar of burnt offering: this is the altar of sacrifice, as opposed to the altar of incense mentioned above.

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 .