Virgin sister: in this context the emphasis in the word translated virgin is not so much on the sexual purity of the girl but on the fact that she has no husband to take care of her in case of her death. It is translated “maiden sister” in New American Bible, and “unmarried sister” in New International Version as well as Good News Translation.

Near to him: this phrase has been interpreted in various ways by the different English versions. New English Bible takes it as going with the previous word and translates “full sister.” But most translations that do something other than a more or less literal rendering seem to think it indicates a definite dependency on the priest in question. Good News Translation translates this dynamically with “living in his house,” and New International Version has “dependent on him.” An American Translation has “still related to him” (compare New Jerusalem Bible and Moffatt), because a married sister would no longer be considered a part of the immediate family.

For her he may defile himself: while this refers specifically to the unmarried sister, it is possible in translation to state that the priest is allowed to make himself unclean for any of the relatives listed in verses 2 and 3. See comments on verse 2.

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 .