This verse deals with a different hypothetical case concerning a house within a city. Therefore a new paragraph is required. And the first sentence may also begin with a word like “Or” to make this clear. In some languages it may even be necessary to begin with “Another case:….”

A dwelling house: in many languages the word dwelling will be considered redundant and may be omitted. In others it may be necessary to say “a house in which people live,” in order to distinguish it from other types of buildings such as those used for animals or for the storage of grain, etc.

In a walled city: a person who lived in a fortified town was probably not a farmer. He might be deprived of his residence (see verse 30) without losing his means of livelihood. But the field (see verses 23-28) and the house (verse 31) of the farmer are considered essential to his work.

Within a whole year: in this case the right of redemption was limited to the first complete year after the sale had taken place.

For a full year: literally “for days (or, times).” The word for year is not specifically mentioned here, but the expression is usually taken as indicating a definite limit and referring back to the whole year. An American Translation translates “throughout that time,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “throughout the ages.” But other versions understand this to be an emphasis on the temporary nature of the rule. New English Bible has “for a time.” And Traduction oecuménique de la Bible has “is temporary.” The Jerusalem Bible rendering may be best: “is limited to a year.” If the right of redemption was not exercised during that period, then it was permanently forfeited.

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 .