atonement

The Greek and Hebrew that is usually translated in English as “atonement” is translated in Luchazi with minina mata: “to swallow another’s spittle.” “The human bite [is traditionally thought of] as being the most poisonous and dangerous and the poison lies in the saliva. So in swallowing another’s spittle, one takes into oneself all the poison or evil of the other and thus actually ‘becomes sin’ on behalf of the other. The substitute then proceeds to deal with the case as though he were the guilty one.” (Source: E. Pearson in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 160ff. )

See also propitiation / atoning sacrifice and sacrifice of atonement / expiation / propitiation.

Translation commentary on Leviticus 6:30

This verse alludes to 4.3-12 and 4.13-21. Only in these two cases a part of the blood was taken inside the Tent of the LORD’s presence.

Shall be eaten: this passive construction may have to be rendered in some languages as “no person can eat…” or “all people must avoid eating….”

Burned with fire: in many languages the words with fire will be considered redundant and unnecessary. Compare 4.11.

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the two verb phrases “… must not be eaten” and “… must be burned.”

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 .