translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: LEV

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “trespasses a trespass” (verb and direct object from the same Hebrew root מַעַל , ma ’ al ). See the note on 5:15 .


text: Or “neighbor” (ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NASB “companion”; TEV “a fellow-Israelite.”


text: Heb “has extorted his neighbor”; ASV “oppressed”; NRSV “defrauded.”


text: Heb “and swears on falsehood”; cf. CEV “deny something while under oath.”


text: Heb “on one from all which the man shall do to sin in them.”


text: Heb “and it shall happen, when he sins and becomes guilty,” which is both resumptive of the previous (vv. 2-3 ) and the conclusion to the protasis (cf. “then” introducing the next clause as the apodosis). In this case, “becomes guilty” (cf. NASB, NIV) probably refers to his legal status as one who has been convicted of a crime in court; thus the translation “he is found guilty.” See R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 1:559-61.


text: Heb “that had been held in trust with him.”


text: Heb “or from all which he swears on it to falsehood.”


text: Heb “in its head.” This refers “the full amount” in terms of the “principal,” the original item or amount obtained illegally (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:338; J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 84).


text: Heb “to whom it is to him he shall give it in the day of his being guilty.” The present translation is based on the view that he has been found guilty through the legal process (see the note on v. 4 above; cf., e.g., TEV and B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 33-34). Others translate the latter part as “in the day he offers his guilt [reparation] offering” (e.g., NIV and J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 73, 84), or “in the day he realizes his guilt” (e.g., NRSV and J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:319, 338).


text: The words “into silver shekels” are supplied here. See the full expression in Lev 5:15 , and compare 5:18 . Cf. NRSV “or its equivalent”; NLT “or the animal’s equivalent value in silver.”


text: Heb “there shall be forgiveness to him” or “it shall be forgiven to him” (KJV similar).


text: Heb “on one from all which he does to become guilty in it”; NAB “whatever guilt he may have incurred.”


text: Heb “It is the burnt offering on the hearth.”


text: Heb “in it.” In this context “in it” apparently refers to the “hearth” which was on top of the altar.


text: The exact nature of this article of the priest’s clothing is difficult to determine. Cf. KJV, ASV “breeches”; NAB “drawers”; NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “undergarments”; NCV “underclothes”; CEV “underwear”; TEV “shorts.”


text: Heb “he shall lift up the fatty ashes which the fire shall consume the burnt offering on the altar.”


text: Heb “it,” referring the “fatty ashes” as a single unit.


text: The word “ceremonially” has been supplied in the translation to clarify that the uncleanness of the place involved is ritual or ceremonial in nature.


text: Heb “in it,” apparently referring to the “hearth” which was on top of the altar (cf. the note on v. 9 ).


text: Heb “offering it, the sons of Aaron.” The verb is a Hiphil infinitive absolute, which is used here in place of the finite verb as either a jussive (GKC 346 §113. cc , “let the sons of Aaron offer”) or more likely an injunctive in light of the verbs that follow (Joüon 2:430 §123. v , “the sons of Aaron shall/must offer”).


text: Heb “and he”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. The “he” refers to the officiating priest. A similar shift between singular and plural occurs in Lev 1:7-9 , but see the note on Lev 1:7 and J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 89 for the possibility of textual corruption.


text: Heb “shall take up from it with his hand some of the choice wheat flour of the grain offering.”


label: NET textual note

text: Smr reading, which includes the locative ה ( hey , translated “on” the altar), is preferred here. This is the normal construction with the verb “offer up in smoke” in Lev 1-7 (see the note on Lev 1:9 ).


text: Heb “and he shall offer up in smoke [on] the altar a soothing aroma, its memorial portion, to the Lord .”


text: Heb “It must not be baked leavened” (cf. Lev 2:11 ). The noun “leaven” is traditional in English versions (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV), but “yeast” is more commonly used today.


text: Heb “holiness of holinesses [or holy of holies] it is”; cf. NAB “most sacred.”


text: Or “a perpetual regulation”; cf. NASB “a permanent ordinance”; NRSV “as their perpetual due.”


text: Heb “for your generations”; cf. NIV “for the generations to come.”


text: Heb “touches them”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. In this context “them” must refer to the “gifts” of the Lord .


text: Or “anyone/anything that touches them shall become holy” (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:443-56). The question is whether this refers to the contagious nature of holy objects (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT) or whether it simply sets forth a demand that anyone who touches the holy gifts of the Lord must be a holy person (cf. CEV). See R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 2:900-902.


text: For the rendering “choice wheat flour” see the note on Lev 2:1 .


text: The term rendered here “well soaked” (see, e.g., NRSV; the Hebrew term is מֻרְבֶּכֶת , murbbekhet ) occurs only three times (here; 7:12 , and 1 Chr 23:29 ), and is sometimes translated “well-mixed” (e.g., NIV, NCV, NLT; NASB “well stirred”; NAB “well kneaded”). The meaning is uncertain (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:399-400), but in Lev 7:12 it stands parallel to already prepared grain offerings either “mixed” (the Hebrew term is בְּלוּלֹת ( bÿlulot ), not מֻרְבֶּכֶת as in Lev 6:21 [ 6:14 HT]) or anointed with oil.


text: Heb “broken bits [?] of a grain offering of pieces,” but the meaning of the Hebrew term rendered here “broken bits” ( תֻּפִינֵי , tufiney ) is quite uncertain. Some take it from the Hebrew verb “to break up, to crumble” ( פַּת [ pat ]; e.g., the Syriac, NAB, NIV, NLT “broken” pieces) and others from “to bake” ( אָפַה , ’ afah ; e.g., NRSV “baked pieces”). For a good summary of other proposed options, see J. E. Hartley, Leviticus (WBC), 90. Compare Lev 2:5-6 for the general regulations regarding this manner of grain offering. Similar but less problematic terminology is used there.


text: Heb “And the anointed priest under him.”


text: Heb “holiness of holinesses [or holy of holies] it is.” Cf. NAB “most sacred”; CEV “very sacred”; TEV “very holy.”


text: Heb “on the garment”; NCV “on any clothes”; CEV “on the clothes of the priest.”


text: The translation “you must wash” is based on the MT as it stands (cf. NASB, NIV). Smr, LXX, Syriac, Tg. Ps.-J. , and the Vulgate have a third person masculine singular passive form (Pual), “[the garment] must be washed” (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT). This could also be supported from the verbs in the following verse, and it requires only a repointing of the Hebrew text with no change in consonants. See the remarks in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus (WBC), 90 and J. Milgrom, Leviticus (AB), 1:404.


text: Heb “it”; the words “that vessel” are supplied in the translation to clarify the referent.


text: Heb “holiness of holinesses [or holy of holies] it is” (also in 7:1 ).


text: Heb “burned with fire,” an expression which is sometimes redundant in English, but here means “burned up,” “burned up entirely.”