You shall not defile the land in which you live: This verse begins very much like verse 33 (see the comments there), although here the Hebrew verb for defile is singular. The LORD has addressed the Israelites in the plural since verse 9, so this singular verb is striking. Translators may follow the ancient translations by using the plural here. However, with this singular verb the LORD seems to be addressing individual Israelites at the end of this section, so some languages may prefer a singular verb (so La Bible de Jérusalem Nouvelle, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). NET Bible renders the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”) at the beginning of this verse as “Therefore” to indicate that it is the ultimate conclusion of the whole section beginning at verse 9. For the Hebrew verb rendered defile, see the comments on 5.3. De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling says “desecrate.”

In the midst of which I dwell is literally “where I am dwelling in the midst of it.” The pronoun “it” refers to the land, which Revised English Bible makes clear by rendering this clause as “the land in which I dwell.” Good News Translation omits this clause. However, translators should keep the double reference to the LORD “dwelling” in the land and also among the people. The form of the Hebrew verb for dwell suggests a continual mode of dwelling.

For I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel: The Hebrew particle ki rendered for is a logical connector, but it also introduces a climactic conclusion, with a definite focus upon I the LORD. The regulations in chapter 35 ensure that God’s land, which the new generation is about to receive, remains pure. The fact that Yahweh resides in the land was both a warning (against pollution) and a promise (of blessing) for the people of Israel.

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 .