complete verse (Leviticus 16:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 16:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “He shall immerse his finger in the blood and sprinkle it on the altar seven times. That is how he is to clean the altar from the sins of the people of Israel and set it apart/dedicate it.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Sprinkling a little blood above it with his finger seven times, he must cleanse the altar from the unclean deeds of the Israelites and make it holy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then he will-dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle seven times the altar for offer this to the LORD and to cleanse this because of the dirtiness/uncleanliness of the Israelinhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Aaron must dip his finger into the basin of blood and sprinkle some of the blood over the altar seven times. By doing that, he will cleanse it from being unholy because of the sins of the Israeli people, and it will become holy again.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 16:19

Shall sprinkle …: compare verse 14.

His finger seven times: see 4.6.

Cleanse it: Good News Translation adds “In this way” at the beginning of a new sentence in order to make clear that the ritual of purification is not a new and different act, but that it is actually performed by the sprinkling of blood on the altar.

Hallow it: this is the same verb that is often translated “sanctify” elsewhere. It may also be rendered “consecrate” or “make holy.” Bible en français courant has “restore its sacred character.”

From the uncleannesses of the people of Israel: grammatically this phrase depends on the two preceding verbs, cleanse and hallow (as in Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible relate it more directly to the first of these verbs. The proximity of the sinful Israelites to the altar contaminated it little by little and made it necessary to have a ceremony to reestablish the proper state required for it to be used in relationship to God. As in verse 16, the plural uncleannesses seems to have no special significance.

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 .