Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours: Since God specifies something else that belongs to the priests in this verse, Good News Translation inserts another paragraph break here. It may also be necessary to begin with a transitional expression, such as “In addition” (compare verse 11). As A Handbook on Leviticus explains at Lev 27.21, the Hebrew word for devoted thing (cherem) is a term for something that must be completely and irrevocably withdrawn from human use. A Handbook on Numbers explains at Exo 22.20 that the word cherem refers to something set apart either for total destruction or, as in the present context, solely for sacred use by the priests. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Alter translate Every devoted thing as “Everything that has been proscribed.” Translators should look for a strong expression that conveys the idea of something that is absolutely and forever given over to the LORD and cannot be redeemed or used for some other purpose, no matter how worthy. Good News Translation says “Everything … that has been unconditionally dedicated to me,” which is a good model. The Hebrew pronoun for yours is singular again, referring to Aaron and to his implied descendants (see verses 12-13). A model based on New Living Translation for this verse is:

• “Everything in Israel that is specially set apart for me, the LORD, also belongs to you.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .