complete verse (Leviticus 4:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 4:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “But he must take the skin of the bullock, all the meat, the head, legs, all the internal organs together with stomach contents” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But he must take the skin of the bull, all the flesh, the head, the leg, the intestines, the stomach, along with the dung” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But the remaining part of the animal, like skin, meat, head, feet, and the internal-organs including the intestines, he will-take (it) outside the camp and will-burn (it) on the burning wood, there in the place which is considered as clean where- ashes -are-poured.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But all the other parts of the animal—its skin/hide and all its other meat, its head and its legs, its inner parts and the intestines,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 4:11 - 4:12

But: this may be seen as marking the contrast between what is done with the other parts of the animal in verses 8-10 and the parts mentioned here, so the transition word But is used in most versions. However, in some languages this word may be misleading. Since a sequence of events is being described, some translators have preferred to introduce this verse with a word like “Then,” or “Next,” or something similar. Or it may be omitted as in New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, An American Translation, and Moffatt.

Verses 11 and 12 constitute a long and rather complex sentence in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Translators may consider breaking them down into two shorter and simpler sentences in the receptor language.

In Revised Standard Version, which reflects the Hebrew, there is no verb in verse 11; it appears at the beginning of verse 12 after the whole bull. In many languages it will be necessary to restructure these two verses so that the verb is shifted forward and the ideas flow more naturally. This, of course, will require the combined numbering of the two verses as 11-12.

He shall carry: it is very unlikely that the High Priest actually performed this action himself. A more literal translation may say “he causes to go out.” An American Translation and Jerusalem Bible have rendered this idea by a passive expression “(the bull) must be carried out(side).” In other languages where the passive is not a valid option, it may be possible to say something like “he shall cause (or send, or command) someone to carry it all out…” or “they [indefinite] shall carry it out.” Note that New Jerusalem Bible has “he will then have carried out.”

The whole bull: since the preceding verse has stated that certain fatty parts have already been burned on the altar, it may be misleading to translate literally the whole bull. “All the rest of the bull,” or “all the remaining parts of the animal,” or something similar, may be more appropriate.

Its entrails, and its dung (compare Exo 29.14): the term rendered entrails in Revised Standard Version has been understood by some scholars as referring rather to the heart and lungs, and the one translated dung to mean “intestines.” Others think that the first word refers to the intestines and the second to fecal matter (as in Revised Standard Version). If the latter is accepted as correct, care should be taken to translate in such a way as to indicate that the fecal matter was still contained in the intestines of the animal at the time of its death, rather than material already excreted from the body before death. However, the interpretation of Good News Translation is probably better in this context; but compare 1.9.

A clean place: the reference here is not just to a place that has been thoroughly sterilized, but to one that has been reserved for this special ritual purpose. In some cases it may be possible to add a qualifying term as in Good News Translation “the ritually clean place,” or “the ceremonially pure place,” but in other languages the word sometimes translated “taboo” may be appropriate to qualify the place.

It shall be burned: if the receptor language cannot use a passive form here, it is advisable to use an impersonal form such as “they shall burn it,” or make the High Priest the subject of a causative verb and say “he shall cause it to burn,” or perhaps better, “he shall command that they burn it.”

In the case of this sacrifice, no part of the animal offered is eaten by the priest(s). This conforms to the rule explicitly stated with regard to grain offerings in 6.16 and is equally valid for the other offerings made by the priests.

It should be noted that the recurring phrase which is repeated in verse 20b, 26b, 31b, 35b, as well as in 5.10b, 13a, 16b, 18b, and 6.7 (“the priest shall make atonement for them [or, him]”) does not appear at the end of this paragraph. Since the sacrifice is offered for the High Priest himself, it is hard to see how he could perform this ritual gesture on himself. For details on this ritual see verse 20.

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 .