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Leviticus – NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV
Leviticus 3:1
Leviticus 3:1 NASB ‘Now if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he is going to offer out of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD.
Leviticus 3:1 HCSB “If his offering is a fellowship sacrifice, and he is presenting an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present one without blemish before the LORD.
Leviticus 3:1 ESV “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Not knowing the reason or the advantage or disadvantage, I thought it interesting to at least point out the different translation. The traditional reading is “peace” offering as seen in the NASB and the ESV. The HCSB reads, “fellowship.” From what I have read, “fellowship” is indeed acceptable more so because of the meaning of the sacrifice instead of the meaning of the Hebrew (shelem). The Hebrew means “peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship” (BDB) which leads to fellowship. Plus this sacrifice, according to the mystudybible.com, is a unique sacrifice – “The fellowship offering signified communion between the worshiper and God (9:18,21; 23:19; Num 6:18) because it was the only sacrifice in which the worshiper ate the shared meal with the priests (Lv 7:31-35).”
Leviticus 13:2
Leviticus 13:2 NASB “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or a scab or a bright spot, and it becomes an infection of leprosy on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.
Leviticus 13:2 HCSB “When a person has a swelling, scab, or spot on the skin of his body, and it becomes a disease on the skin of his body, he is to be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.
Leviticus 13:2 ESV “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests,
The HCSB does not use the term “leprosy” in the 2010 version but it does use it once in the 2004 version in 2 Samuel 3:29. The reason is because the term today refers to a different disease than referred to in the Bible. The NET Bible also does not use the term leprosy in this verse, but does in others.
Leviticus 13:37
Leviticus 13:47 NASB “When a garment has a mark of leprosy in it, whether it is a wool garment or a linen garment,
Leviticus 13:47 HCSB “If a fabric is contaminated with mildew–in wool or linen fabric,
Leviticus 13:47 ESV “When there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment,
Since leprosy as is known today is a skin disease, the HCSB’s decision to not translate as “leprosy” makes contextual sense. Mildew or mold is most likely the correct understanding.
Leviticus 16:29,31
Leviticus 16:29 NASB “This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you;
Leviticus 16:29 HCSB “This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.
Leviticus 16:29 ESV “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.
This is the Day of Atonement. Each of these versions is different and present different perspectives. To “humble your souls” seems quite positive and attitudinal. “Practice self-denial” seems more action oriented. And “afflict yourselves” seems quite negative, whether in attitude or in action. Usually associated with the Day of Atonement (i.e., Yom Kippur) is fasting (Isa.583-5).
Leviticus 17:4
Leviticus 17:4 NASB and has not brought it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguiltiness is to be reckoned to that man. He has shed blood and that man shall be cut off from among his people.
Leviticus 17:4 HCSB (2004) instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD before His tabernacle–that person will be charged with murder. He has shed blood and must be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 17:4 HCSB (2010) instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD before His tabernacle — that person will be considered guilty. He has shed blood and must be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 17:4 ESV and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people.
I included this passage not so much as a comparison or contrast between the HCSB and the NASB and ESV, but to contrast the 2004 and 2010 versions of the HCSB. “Murder” struck me as strange. The Hebrew means “blood” and can mean murder. However, as the updated HCSB implies by the change, “murder” is the wrong translation because then it would equate killing an animal as murder. The guilty is guilty of shedding blood improperly, but not of a man in a crime, but of an animal in an irreligious act.
Leviticus 18:7
Leviticus 18:7 NASB ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother; you are not to uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:7 HCSB You are not to shame your father by having sex with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual intercourse with her.
Leviticus 18:7 ESV You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness.
Although the same words are used again and again throughout vv.6-18, I chose v.7 as an intriguing example of all of them. The NASB and ESV are very literal in using the term “nakedness” and the HCSB is very accurate in translating this as “having sex.” That is usually the meaning, but in this verse (and others) there is a twist. Having sex with your mother is uncovering her nakedness but also uncovering your father’s nakedness. I do not think the meaning is that you are having sex with your father also. The HCSB translates the second use as “shame.” Family, whether through marriage or parentage or even adoption is all considered the same “nakedness.” I wonder if this harkens back to the “one flesh” concept of Genesis 2:24.
The NET Bible combines both of the translations of the NASB, ESV and HCSB – Leviticus 18:7 NET You must not expose your father’s nakedness by having sexual intercourse with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have intercourse with her.
Of these four translations, I prefer the NET here.
Leviticus 25:55
Leviticus 25:55 NASB ‘For the sons of Israel are My servants; they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 25:55 HCSB For the Israelites are My slaves. They are My slaves I brought out of the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 25:55 ESV For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
The Hebrew translated “servants” here in the NASB and the ESV is translated “slaves” in 26:13 in those two translations. The HCSB is consistent and translates both verses as “slaves.” My guess is that “servants” sounds less offensive. But maybe we too easily forget that yes we are God’s slaves.
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