Shall not go in to any dead body: this may be equally well translated “he must not approach any dead body” or “he must avoid contact with all dead bodies.” The idea of going into a house (see Good News Translation) is not necessarily implied. Compare New Jerusalem Bible “he will not go near any corpse” (similarly New American Bible, An American Translation, and Moffatt).

Even for his father or for his mother: this clearly shows that the requirements for the High Priest are more rigid than those for the ordinary priests. Compare verse 2. It is, of course, implied that if this is not done for the High Priest’s own parents, it must certainly not be done for any of the other relatives mentioned in verses 2 and 3 above. It may be wise to say, as Good News Translation has done, “even if it is his own father or mother.”

Go out of the sanctuary: this does not mean that the High Priest was to remain in the holy place at all times, but only that he must not leave it for the purpose of taking part in a funeral. Compare 10.7.

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 .