Verses 1–7 are background information for the story. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information.

The words translated as came in could also be translated as “went in.” Use whichever form is most natural in your language.

Jacob and Israel are two names for the same man.

Here, house refers to all of the people who live together, usually a large family with servants. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [and his household]

Here, lives refers to people (specifically, men); going out of the loins of Jacob is a reference to these people as being in his seed or semen and produced through his sexual acts–therefore meaning they are his descendants. See also Hebrews 7:9–10. Alternate translation: [And all the male descendants of Jacob numbered 70.]

They did not die immediately. Jacob and his sons spent the rest of their lives in Egypt and died there. If necessary, use a transition word that conveys that some time passed.

All his brothers includes ten older brothers and one younger brother. If your language has different words for those, you can say, “his ten older brothers and his younger brother”

This is the first of many times in this book that sons of Israel refers to the Israelite nation or people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [And the people of Israel] or [And the Israelites]

All of these verbs mean similar things; they are used together to emphasize that the Israelites became very numerous. If your language does not have as many words that mean the same thing, you can use fewer words and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [had many children and became strong]

Compare your translation of fruitful … and multiplied … and the land was filled here to Genesis 1:28, 9:1, and 9:7, and especially Genesis 35:11 where God renamed Jacob to be called Israel.

The birth of children to the Israelites is spoken of as if they were plants that were producing fruit and causing new plants to grow around them. If your readers would not understand what this image means in this context, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [had many children] or [gave birth to many children]

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun greatness in another way. Alternate translation: [and were very great]

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language Alternate translation: [and they filled the land]

Here the same word is used twice to emphasize how many the Israelite people had become. If your language does not repeat words like this, express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [with much power]

Here, them refers to the Israelites.

This introduces a new event that happened some time after the events the story has just related. The story does not say how long after those events this new event happened. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new event.

The story begins with the new king. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new character.

Here, Egypt refers to the place and the people of Egypt. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [And a new king began to rule over the Egyptians and the country of Egypt]

Here, Joseph refers to both the person Joseph and to all of the good things that he did for Egypt. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. See the UST.

Behold draws special attention to what is about to be said. Use a way of drawing people’s attention that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Listen]

The people whom the king rules over and who are also part of his group (probably shared ethnicity, tribe, or clan) rather than the Israelite group are spoken of as if they belonged to the king. This is an instance of the possessive of social relationship.

There is some ambiguity as to whom exactly Pharaoh was addressing. It could have been: (1) the people who lived in Egypt, the Egyptians or (2) some group of “his people” like his advisors, generals, nobles, or friends and family. Even if option 1 is meant, it is quite possible that he actually spoke to some smaller group of representatives, as in option 2.

Use a way that is natural in your language to compare non-specific sizes of groups of people. Alternate translation: [and much greater than us]

Beginning from behold and extending to the end of 1:10 is a direct quotation of what the king said. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening first-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation. There may be other quotations in this chapter; they will be marked by the same punctuation, but they will not have their own notes.

The word us is inclusive and refers to the king and his people, the Egyptians. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Here, him, he, and himself refer to the Israelite people. The pronouns agree grammatically with the singular “people” in the original. This occurs in many places in Exodus. If this is confusing in your language, you can use the plural, as in the UST.

The king suggests a combination of two hypothetical events: 1. There are even more Israelites, 2. There is a battle. These are followed by a series of undesirable consequences: 3. The Israelites join an enemy, 4. The Israelites attack the Egyptians, 5. The Israelites leave Egypt. While the series of consequences is also technically hypothetical, the king’s language indicates that if 1–2 happen, then 3–5 are certain. Use language that makes it clear that the first two events are hypothetical and that the next three are consequences that could be expected if the first two events happen.

Alternate translation: [and he leaves Egypt]

Overseers were Egyptians whose job it was to force the Israelites to do hard work.

Here the plural means groups. Alternate translation: [work crews]

Alternate translation: [to force the Israelites to do hard work for the Egyptians]

These were places where the leaders put away food and other important things to keep them safe. Alternate translation: [cities in which to put away things to keep them safe]

The possessive is objective; storage of goods is what occurs in the cities. Alternate translation: [cities for storing things]

This sentence expresses a result that is the opposite of what the king expected. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast.

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun dread in another way. Alternate translation: [And they were very afraid of the face of]

Here, face means the presence of a person. The phrase means that the Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites’ existence in their country. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [of the growing Israelite population]

Here, rigor is a noun used to modify the verb enslaved. Rigor could refer either to how hard the work was or how unkindly the Egyptians treated the Israelites. If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind it in another way. Alternate translation: [And the Egyptians made the sons of Israel work very hard] or [And harshly, the Egyptians made the sons of Israel work]

The difficult lives of the Israelites are spoken of as if their daily lives were bitter food that was difficult to eat. If your readers would not understand what this image means in this context, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [And they made their lives very difficult]

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind slavery in another way. Alternate translation: [by making them work hard as slaves]

Mortar is a mixture of lime with cement, sand, and water, used in building to bond bricks or stones.

Bricks are blocks made of clay or mud with straw in them. They are hardened in the sun or in another manner before they are used for building.

See how you translated this in 1:13. Alternate translation: [the Egyptians made them work very hard] or [the Egyptians forced them to work very hard]

Here, they and them refer to the Egyptians.

Here, their and they refer to the Israelites.

See how you translated rigor in the previous verse.

This sentence introduces a new event in the story. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new event.

Midwives were women who helped a pregnant woman give birth to a baby.

Shiphrah and Puah are women’s names.

The midwives are introduced here as new participants in the story. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new character.

In the UST, the phrase and the king said, is combined with “spoke” from 1:15 (ULT) because the verb for “say” is used twice before he speaks. Having two speech verbs may be strange in some languages. If it would be unnatural to say that the king spoke or said words twice, you may leave one off.

The king is speaking to the two midwives, so the form of you is plural. If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a dual or plural form here.

Women sat on this short stool as they gave birth. Therefore, it was associated with birth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [in the birthing process]

These two statements are hypothetical conditions (starting at if) with instructions for what the midwives should do in each situation (starting at then). Use a natural form in your language for hypothetical situations connected to instructions.

But introduces a contrast to what was expected. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast.

Women whose work is to help other woman give birth to a baby are called midwives. See how you translated this in Exodus 1:15.

If it would be more natural in your language, you could translate this quotation as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [and he asked them why they were letting the sons live.]

Alternate translation: [Why have you not killed the baby boys?]

This you is plural. The king is speaking to the two midwives. If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a dual or plural form here.

The midwives give a reason, the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, and then they expand on that reason, for they are lively (or energetic), with the result that before the midwife comes to them, they have given birth.

Here, midwives said means that a midwife spoke representing the thoughts of the group. It may not make sense in your language to say that multiple people said something, so you may need to translate it in the singular (See: UST).

These were women who helped a woman give birth to a baby. See how you translated this in Exodus 1:15.

These were women who helped a woman give birth to a baby. See how you translated this in Exodus 1:15.

This sentence gives background information about the events at the time. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information.

These words mean similar things and are used together to emphasize their numeric growth. If your language does not have as many words that mean the same thing, you can use fewer words and express the emphasis in another way.

This phrase is more logically connected to the statements in verse 21. It describes the result of the midwives fearing God with a general statement. If it would be more natural in your language, you could rearrange verses 20–21 so that the reason (verses 21) comes before both the general and specific results.

This is the reason for what God did. If it would be more natural in your language, you could rearrange verses 20–21 so that the reason (verses 21) comes before both the general and specific results.

This describes the result of the midwives fearing God with a specific statement. If it would be more natural in your language, you could rearrange verses 20–21 so that the reason (verses 21) comes before both the general and specific results.

Alternate translation: [households]

This order was given in order to drown the male Hebrew children. The full meaning of this may be made explicit. Alternate translation: [You must dispose of each new baby boy in the river so he will drown] or [Drown each baby boy in the river when he is born]

From You shall to the end of the verse is a direct quote of Pharaoh’s speech. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. However, it could be translated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [And Pharaoh commanded all of his people to throw every baby boy into the river, but to let every girl live.]

The uses of the word you here refer to all the Egyptians. If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

A new scene begins here. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new event.

These are new participants. They remain unnamed until Exodus 6:20 where they are identified as Amram and Jochebed. For now it is best to leave them unnamed in your language, if possible.

Here, took a daughter is an idiom for marrying. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language.

Alternate translation: [pleasing] or [fine]

Hiding the boy was a result of seeing that he was good. Alternate translation: [Since she saw … she hid him]

3

The ark is a basket made from a tall grass (papyrus reeds) that grows by the Nile River in Egypt.

You could explicitly state that this was to keep out water. Alternate translation: [and she daubed it with bitumen and with pitch to keep water from getting into it]

This means that she applied a waterproof coating.

This is a sticky black substance made from oil. It can be used to keep out water. Alternate translation: [with tar]

This is a sticky brown or black substance that can be made from tree sap. It too can be used to keep out water. Alternate translation: [and with tar] or [and with resin]

These reeds were a type of tall grass with wide blades that formed a flat surface when woven together. They grew in flat, wet areas.

This means she stood far enough away so that she would not be noticed, but close enough to see the ark. Use a word that expresses this sort of distance in your language.

This probably means somewhere in the reeds where she could see the basket, but no one would see her. If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun distance in another way. Alternate translation: [not far away]

Here, the actions of his sister show that she was older. If your language uses a different term for siblings based on their relative ages or the gender of the siblings or both, use one that means “a boy’s older sister.”

This is her purpose in being close by. Use a natural way in your language for indicating purpose. Alternate translation: [in order to learn what would happen to him]

Came down may be literal or figurative, as important places are often considered to be in a higher place. This means she came from her home, probably Pharaoh’s palace. If a perspective is required for Pharaoh’s daughter, you may choose go or come as works best in your language. “Come” is better as the scene is at the river and she comes to the scene location. However, you also need to consider your language’s way of introducing new participants.

The daughter of Pharaoh is introduced here as a new participant. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new character.

These women are introduced here as new participants; however, they are not mentioned again after this verse.

Here, hand is a metaphor for side or, as relating to a river, shore. If your readers would not understand what this image means in this context, you could simply translate the meaning.

These were the young women whose job it was to be with her and make sure nothing bad happened to her.

It is not clear who is meant by she here, either Pharaoh’s daughter or the servant. It is likely that Pharaoh’s daughter remains the subject. Alternate translation: [and she took the ark from her slave]

The word behold signals the surprising information that follows.

The text does not state exactly what caused her to have compassion on the baby. If a reason must be provided in your language, it should be connected to either his crying (this is the better option) or that he was a “good” baby (2:2).

This is a direct quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. It seems to have been said loud enough for the baby’s sister to hear. There may be other quotations in this chapter; they will be marked by the same punctuation, but they will not have their own notes.

This is a suggestive question. The child’s sister is hopeful that Pharaoh’s daughter does not yet have a plan for the baby beyond saving his life. However, it is still a true question, for without Pharaoh’s daughter’s permission, the child’s sister will not be able to fetch the woman. If your language has a way of forming questions that are also suggestions, use it here.

Here, nursing or to nurse means to feed with milk from the breast.

This is the purpose of the sister’s proposal. Use a natural way in your language for indicating purpose. Alternate translation: [And she could nurse the infant for you]

The girl left Pharaoh’s daughter to go to the child’s mother. The girl was almost certainly on foot. Use verbs of motion that express this.

The child’s mother is reintroduced as a participant. Use the natural form in your language for reintroducing a character. Alternate translation: [to the baby’s mother]

This refers to payment that Pharaoh’s daughter would give to the mother in exchange for her service of nursing the baby.

The mother’s acceptance of the deal is implied. You could make it explicit, as in the UST.

And the child grew older marks an unspecified amount of time. He would have stayed with his mother at least until he was weaned (no longer feeding on his mother’s milk).

Alternate translation: [and he became the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter]

These events were likely simultaneous, because her act of naming him may have been what made him become as a son to her. Consider using a conjunction that does not make a great separation between these events.

Translators may add a footnote that says, “The name Moses sounds like the Hebrew word that means ‘draw out.’”

For begins a direct quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. If it would be more natural in your language, you could express this as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [because she said she drew him out of the water]

A significant amount of time has passed; later texts state that Moses was 40 years old at this point. Alternate translation: [Many years later, once Moses was grown, he went out]

This introduces a new event in the story. In your language, use a phrase that indicates a new event occurring after significant time has passed.

The UST supplies a probable location that he went out from; it could also have been simply out from the Egyptian area or out to the work area or cities. Use go or come as appropriate in your language.

Alternate translation: [hitting a Hebrew] or [beating a Hebrew]

These two opposite directions have the combined meaning of “everywhere.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [He looked all around]

The context makes clear that Moses struck the Egyptian hard enough or repeatedly until Moses killed him. Consider using a word that indicates a deadly blow.

See how you translated this in Exodus 2:11.

The ordinal number here could mean “the next day” (UST) or simply on some day following the events of the previous verse.

Here, behold shows that Moses was surprised by what he saw. You can use a word in your language that will give this meaning.

Based on Moses’ question, this means the aggressor or the man wrongfully attacking his neighbor. Alternate translation: [the man who was guilty of starting the fight]

The man is not asking a question, he is using this question to rebuke Moses for intervening in the fight. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [You are not our leader and have no right to judge us!]

The man used a question here to be sarcastic. Alternate translation: [We know that you killed an Egyptian yesterday. You had better not kill me!]

Again, the man asks a question that is intended to make a statement. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [Do you think you could kill me without anyone finding out? We know what you did to the Egyptian]

Alternate translation: [Are you planning to kill me] or [Are you threatening to kill me]

Certainly the thing is known was likely something Moses said to himself, that is, he thought it to himself rather than speaking to the men in front of him. If this would be confusing in your language, you might introduce it as a thought. Alternate translation: [and thought]

It may be clearer to present what was likely a thought Moses had as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation (as indirect quotation): [because he thought that everyone knew what he had done]

Pharaoh most likely delegated this task. Alternate translation: [and he sought to have Moses killed] (note that the passive form will not work in every language)

His face means his presence. Alternate translation: [from]

In Hebrew, these are the same verb. In English, they could be translated as “settle,” which can mean to dwell in a certain place, but it can also mean to lower one’s body into a seated position. This could mean: (1) Moses lived in Midian. He sat by this well one day. This may have been the well for the town he lived in. (2) Moses lived in Midian. His home was by this well. (3) Moses was a wanderer. He was in Midian and sat by this well when the next event occurred.

This sentence is background information. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information.

This sentence marks a scene transition. However, the last clause of the previous verse (“and he sat down by a well”) seems to be related to this new scene, so you may want to make your transition before that, as is done in the UST.

The daughters are new participants. Use the natural form in your language for introducing new characters.

The perspective of the narrative is set at the well. The daughters came from elsewhere to the well. They were probably on foot. Here each language will need to choose the appropriate motion word.

7

This means that they brought up water from a well.

The troughs were long, narrow, open containers for animals to eat or drink out of.

A group of men came. They may not have been far away before coming and driving the women away. Use an appropriate form of moving verb.

These are new characters only seen briefly.

Use an expression that communicates that what Moses did was unexpected.

The daughters came from the well to their father, probably on foot. You can use either come or go, whichever is more natural.

Reuel, a name or perhaps a title, is used of the man only here and in Numbers 10:29. He is otherwise called “Jethro.”

The priest of Midian was mentioned in v. 16 in a background statement but is a new character starting here. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new character.

If it would be more natural in your language, you could express this as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [and he asked how they were able to return so quickly that day]

Alternate translation: [in returning]

Jethro’s daughters assume Moses was Egyptian. When you translate it, you should be clear that this refers to Moses.

Here, hand refers to the power, control, or actions of the shepherds. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [from the strength of] or [from the harm of]

This expresses surprise or emphasizes the magnitude of Moses’ act of kindness to the women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language.

These questions are a mild rebuke to the daughters for not inviting Moses into their home according to the normal hospitality of that culture. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [You should not have left this man at the well!]

Here, him refers to Moses.

Here, bread is used to refer to food in general. If this would be misunderstood in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or plain language. Alternate translation: [food]

Alternate translation: [Moses agreed to live with Reuel]

Zipporah is Reuel’s (Jethro’s) daughter.

Only this portion is a quotation. As a possibility for clarity, the UST includes both speech events as one quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

His name, Gershom, sounds somewhat like the Hebrew for “a stranger here.” You may consider using a footnote to explain that.

Alternate translation: [stranger in a foreign land]

This introduces a new section and series of events. A large amount of time went by. According to Stephen’s sermon in Acts 7:30, Moses was in Midian 40 years. Alternate translation: [This is what happened during the many days Moses was in Midian. The king of Egypt died.]

Verses 23–25 give a summary of what happened in Egypt and with the Israelites and God while Moses was in exile. These verses give background information to set the scene. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information.

They groaned because of their sorrow and misery. Alternate translation: [sighed deeply]

The plea of the Israelites are spoken of as if they were a person and were able to travel up to where God is. If this might be confusing for your readers, you could express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and God heard their pleading]

This a common biblical way of saying that God thought about what He had promised. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language. Alternate translation: [and God recalled]

This phrase brings the story focus back to Midian and Moses. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a new event.

Verse 1 provides immediate background context, setting the scene for Moses’ interaction with Yahweh. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information.

This is a possessive of social relationship. Jethro is a priest who serves the Midianites.

Alternate translation: [and he arrived at]

This is an associative possessive. This mountain was associated with God in some way. In Exodus 3:12 God tells Moses that he and the Israelites will serve him on this mountain. Later in the story, this promise is fulfilled, and it is where God makes his covenant with Israel and gives them the 10 Commandments. So it may have been called the mountain of God in retrospect (as Moses probably wrote this book sometime after the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness). However, it is possible that the mountain was already somehow associated with God’s presence or worship before Moses went there with the flock.

This is a summary of what happened. The next few verses tell the story of how this happened and how Moses discovered what was happening.

The word behold here shows that Moses saw something that was very different from what he expected. He expected the bush to be burnt up completely by the fire. Consider using an interjection in your language that expresses that what follows is a surprise.

Here, being consumed means being eaten completely until gone. In the case of fire, this is a metonym for burning completely until gone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [destroyed by the fire]

This is a direct quote. It’s not specified who Moses spoke to; he may have been alone or with a group of shepherds or his family. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation. There may be other quotations in this chapter; they will be marked by the same punctuation, but they will not have their own notes unless there is something unique about them.

If your language does not use an abstract noun for something strange that someone sees, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun sight in another way. Alternate translation: [unusual thing that I see]

These terms both refer to the same being, since God’s name is Yahweh.

This is the reason Moses must stop coming close to the burning bush and take off his sandals. If it would be more natural in your language, you could put the reason before the commands, as in, “The place on which you are standing, it is holy ground, so you must not come close to here. Take your sandals off from on your feet.”

All of these men worshiped the same God. Alternate translation: [the God of your father, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob]

This a direct quotation. The UST continues the quotation from verse 5 rather than including an additional “he said.” This may be more natural in some languages. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate the direct quotation with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

This could mean (1) “your father,” if it means “your father,” then it refers to Moses’ own father (2) “your ancestor,” if it means “your ancestor,” then the phrases following it clarify who “your father” refers to: it refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In most cases, it will be best to translate it as “your father,” i.e. Amram, Moses’ father.

Reason: for he was afraid from staring toward God Result: And Moses hid his face If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. (See also: Exodus 33:20)

After this phrase, a direct quote begins that continues through the end of 3:10. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening first-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation.

The Hebrew practice of verb repetition for intensification cannot be directly translated into English. Here, “see” is repeated in Hebrew. This expresses the intensity, certainty, or clarity of Yahweh’s having seen how his people were suffering. Use a natural form of strengthening a verb from your language.

There are two possessives here: (1) “affliction of … people”: This is an event-related possessive where the people are the objects of affliction. They are treated badly as slaves. (2) “my people”: This one is more difficult as it involves both ownership and the possessive of social relationship. God views his people as his possession, and he is also in relationship with them as their God because they are descended from Abraham, though at this time they may not know God as theirs.

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun affliction in another way. Alternate translation: [how my people who are in Egypt are afflicted] or [how the Egyptians afflict my people]

Here, faces refers to the whole person or the presence of the person(s) who were oppressing the Israelites. If this image is used in your language, you may translate it. If a similar image is used, you may consider using it. If neither is the case, you may omit the word “face” and translate the meaning.

Alternate translation: [his oppressors]

Here, surely is intensifying the expression of Yahweh’s knowledge. Your translation should express Yahweh’s knowing with certainty or strength.

These pronouns, him and his, refer to the Israelites as a group in the singular. They agree with “people” as a collective noun earlier in this verse. Some languages may have to use plural pronouns. Others may have to match the pronoun’s gender to the grammatical gender of the word for “people” in their language. If necessary, change “him” to “them” or change “his” to “hers” or “its” (depending on grammatical gender of “people.”) Alternate translation: [those who oppress them … their anguish]

This is an event-related possessive where the people (as a group: his) are the subjects of anguish. Your translation should express that they are deeply distressed.

It is implied that they are deeply distressed because they are treated badly as slaves. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express that explicitly. Alternate translation: [his anguish from his slavery]

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun anguish in another way. Alternate translation: [how distressed they are]

Verse 8 contains God’s intended result from his acts of seeing and hearing, expressed in both verses 7 and 9. You may need to expressly mark this, for instance by introducing verse 8 with something like “Therefore,” and verse 9 with something like “Again, because.”

God is expressing that he is descending from heaven to earth to intervene. God is always everywhere, but this phrase means that his special attention will be directed to this situation. Use whatever form of come or go is appropriate in your language for this.

Here, him refers in the singular to the Israelites as a group. It is agreeing with “people” as a collective noun in 3:6. Some languages may have to use plural pronouns. Others may have to match the pronoun’s gender to the grammatical gender of the word for “people” in their language. See what you did in the previous verse.

Someone’s hand is a common Biblical metaphor for power and control. If your readers would not understand what this image means in this context, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly.

This is a possessive where the Egyptians are the subject of the hand, which means power. The Egyptians used their power and control to oppress the Israelites. Use a phrase in your language that expresses the idea of a group of people having power.

There are multiple levels of parallelism here. First, the statements, to a good and wide land and to a land flowing with milk and honey are in parallel with each other. Within each of those, good and wide are in parallel with each other, and milk and honey are in parallel with each other. Each of these levels is meant to reinforce and expand upon one another. These are not examples of synonymous parallelism, and each part of the statement should be translated.

Here, milk is a metonym for domestic animals and the food products obtained from them; honey is a metonym for the food obtained from growing plants. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. The next note explains further.

God spoke of the land being good for animals and plants as if the milk and honey from those animals and plants were flowing through the land. If this metaphor makes sense in your language, you may translate it. If your language has metaphors that mean a land is good for producing healthy livestock and good crops, you may consider using those. If neither is the case, you may translate the meaning. See UST.

Alternate translation: [full of] or [with an abundance of]

Since milk comes from cows and goats, this represents food produced by livestock. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [food from livestock]

Since honey is produced from flowers, this represents food from crops. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [food from crops]

This verse parallels 3:7. Yahweh is restating that the Israelite’s plight has gotten his attention. This creates emphasis and connection to what Yahweh will do with what Moses will do as Yahweh’s appointed leader. If this repetition would confuse your readers consider a paragraph break at the start of this verse to separate the two parallel statements or use some other strategy of emphasis and connection that is natural in your language.

This is a term meant to focus the attention of the listener on what the speaker is about to say. If there is not a good way to translate this term in your language, this term can be omitted from the translation, or you can use an alternate translation like “certainly.”

Here, the cry is spoken of as if it were a person who is capable of moving on his own. If this might be confusing for your readers, you could express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I have heard the cries of the people of Israel]

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun oppression in another way. Alternate translation: [I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them]

And now functions as a discourse marker expressing logical conclusion. “So then,”

Moses uses this question to tell God that he, Moses, is not the right person for the task. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way.

If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

Moses presents God with a hypothetical situation here. The three events (go … say to them … say to me) are part of one hypothetical event. You should translate this in a way that makes it clear that this is a future, not-yet-real event.

Behold is a term meant to focus the attention of the listener on what the speaker is about to say. In this case, Moses uses it to introduce what he views as a probable future occurrence. Alternate translation: [Now]

In your language, use go or “come” as makes most sense for Moses’ hypothetical action of going from the mountain to where the Israelites are.

This is a second-level quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by marking it with second-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation inside a quotation. However, you may also choose to translate it as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [that the God of their fathers has sent me to them]

Here, fathers means “ancestors.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [The God of your ancestors] or [The God whom your ancestors worshiped]

Moses is asking God what he should do as a result of the hypothetical situation he presented (see earlier note). Use a natural form in your language for introducing a situation that could happen. Alternate translation: [If that happens, what should I say to them]

This is God’s response to Moses’ question about God’s name. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: [God said to Moses, “Tell them that God says his name is ‘I AM WHO I AM.’”]

This could mean: (1) this whole sentence is God’s name or (2) God is not telling his name but something about himself. By saying this, God is teaching that he is eternal; he has always lived and always will live.

Languages that do not have an equivalent to the verb “am” may need to render this as “I LIVE” or “I EXIST.”

This indicates that God is still speaking. It may make more sense to omit this in some languages.

This is a second-level quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by marking it with second-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation inside a quotation. However, you may also choose to translate it as an indirect quotation, as in the UST.

As God is still speaking, it may make more sense to omit this in some languages.

After this phrase, a direct quotation begins that continues until the end of chapter 3 at verse 22. This section contains four levels of quotations as God tells Moses to tell the Israelite elders a specific message from God. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening first-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation.

This is a second-level quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening second-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation within a quotation. It may be possible to translate it as an indirect quotation, but you will need to be careful to correctly change the pronoun persons. Alternate translation: [You must tell the Israelites that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, sent you to them. This is his name forever, and this is his memorial from generation to generation.]

Here, fathers means “ancestors.” Alternate translation: [the God of your ancestors] or [the God whom your ancestors worshiped]

The repetition of generation is indicating “to each and every generation” which means “for all people at all times.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language.

Here, fathers means “ancestors.” Alternate translation: [the God of your ancestors] or [the God whom your ancestors worshiped]

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were three of the Israelites’ ancestors. They all worshiped the same God.

This begins a third-level quotation that continues until the end of 3:17. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening third-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation within a quotation that is within a quotation. The closing marks for both the second-level and third-level quotations should not occur until the end of verse 17.

The word translated attended often means God is coming to take action. Translate this phrase in a way that communicates God’s focused, caring observation.

Here, attended is repeated in Hebrew. The Hebrew practice of verb repetition for intensification cannot be directly translated into English. This expresses the intensity, certainty, or clarity of Yahweh’s having attended to how his people were suffering. Use a natural form of strengthening a verb from your language.

The word you refers to the people of Israel. If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

The focus of this passive is the mistreatment being done to the Israelites, not on who is doing it. In fact, in Egypt further dissociates the actors from this sentence. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language, as in the UST.

The phrase in Egypt is a metonym for the Egyptian oppressors. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [by the Egyptians]

This begins a second-level quotation that continues until the end of 3:17. It contains a third-level quotation that begins at “I have certainly” and also continues to the end of verse 17. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening second-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation within a quotation. The closing marks for both the second and third-level quotations should not occur until the end of verse 17.

If you are using direct quotations, at the end of this verse you should have three closing markers. In English, it looks like ’ ” ’ (without spaces).

This is a fourth-level quotation. It should be marked in some manner that distinguishes it from the outer three levels. Alternatively, it can be translated as an indirect quotation, as in the UST.

Regardless of the geographic realities, to bring up does not primarily have a literal meaning. Rather, it means to bring the Israelites into a better situation. God promised to bring them up from their low status as slaves to a place where they would be the masters of a good land. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language.

See how you translated affliction in 3:7. Alternate translation: [from being afflicted]

Here, milk is a metonym for domestic animals and the food products obtained from them; honey is a metonym for the food obtained from growing plants. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. The next note explains further.

God spoke of the land being good for animals and plants as if the milk and honey from those animals and plants were flowing through the land. See how you translated this in Exodus 3:8. Alternate translation: [a land that is excellent for raising livestock and growing crops] or [a land where milk and honey flow]

Alternate translation: [full of] or [with an abundance of]

Since milk comes from cows and goats, this represents food produced by livestock. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [food from livestock]

Since honey is produced from flowers, this represents food from crops. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [food from crops]

Listen often means “hear and do/obey.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language. Alternate translation: [And they will pay attention to your voice]

Here, your and you refers to Moses.

This phrase means the elders will listen to the message Moses brings from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to your message] or [to my message which you tell them]

This is a possessive of social relationship. Alternate translation: [elders in charge of the Israelites]

Israel is a collective noun that refers to all the Israelites. If your language does not use singular nouns in that way, you can use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the Israelites] or [the Israelite people]

Here, Egypt refers to the Egyptian nation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the Egyptians]

If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

These instances of us are exclusive; they include Moses, the elders, and all the Israelites, but exclude the king of Egypt. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Alternate translation: [3]

The word hand is a metonym for the power of the owner of the hand. There are two further difficulties: (1) Whose hand (power) is being referred to, (2) does the negative mean “not unless” or “not even?” Possible meanings include: (1) “only if he sees that he has no power to do anything else,” where the hand belongs to Pharaoh (2) “only if I force him to let you go,” where the hand belongs to Yahweh, taking “not unless” for the negative (3) “not even if I force him to let you go,” where the hand belongs to Yahweh, taking “not even” for the negative

God says this will be a result of the king of Egypt’s stubbornness. Alternate translation: [Therefore, I will send out]

Here, hand refers to God’s power. Alternate translation: [I will use my strength]

Egypt refers to both the land and the people group, and then, by extension, to Pharaoh as well.

Here, him refers to Egypt as a collective.

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun wonders in another way. Alternate translation: [my amazing acts]

Here the sequential nature of these happenings is emphasized. Consider using a stronger sequential connective term than usual here.

Here, he refers to the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

Here, you refers to the Israelites. If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

In the eyes of the Egyptians is an idiom for the Egyptian’s feelings. Favor means those feelings are positive. Taken together, this means that when the Egyptians see the Israelites (Hebrews) leaving Egypt, they will gladly help them (because they want them to leave so badly due to the Egyptians suffering under God’s judgment). If your language has the same or a similar idiom, you can translate or use it. Otherwise, you can translate the meaning.

This is a part-whole possessive. Also, if your language uses a specific form of the possessive for things one cannot lose, it would be appropriate to use that form here.

Alternate translation: [you]

If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

Alternate translation: [leave] or [go out] or [come out]

The double negative, not … emptily is used to mean “full.” If this double negative would be misunderstood in your language, you could translate it as a positive statement. Alternate translation: [go with many things]

Here Yahweh uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If this is confusing in your language, you can express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: [you will go with your hands full of good things] or [you will go with many valuable things]

The word, sojourning means living somewhere other than one’s native land, usually temporarily. It is unclear both who the sojourning (visiting) women are and in whose house they are sojourning, leaving several possibilities. Most translations which make a decision about who they are identify both the temporary resident and her host home as Egyptian. This makes sense as the Israelites will be plundering the Egyptians. If it is possible to leave this ambiguous in your translation, that would be best.

Each of these is a plural you. If your language uses different forms of “you” depending on the number of people addressed, use a plural form here.

After this phrase, the direct quote of Yahweh’s word which started in 3:15 ends. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with a closing first-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the end of a quotation.

Here, answered and said is a Hebrew expression which does not convey any extra information. Unless your language naturally uses a similar structure, it is better to translate one verb and omit the other. Alternate translation: [Moses answered]

This is a direct quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by marking it with first-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.There may be other quotations in this chapter; they will be marked by the same punctuation, but they will not have their own notes unless there is something unique about them.

See 3:18. Alternate translation: [to what I say]

This is a second-level quotation. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by marking it with second-level quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation within a quotation. However, you could translate it as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [that Yahweh has not appeared to me]

This is a term meant to focus the attention of the listener on what the speaker is about to say. If there is not a good way to translate this term in your language, this term can be omitted from the translation, or you can use an alternate translation like “Listen to me.”

Here, him and he refer to Moses. Alternate translation: [to Moses … And Moses said]

Here, “face” represents the snake itself. Alternate translation: [from the snake]

Alternate translation: [and pick it up by the tail] or [and grasp it by the tail]

This direct quotation is interrupted by Moses obeying Yahweh. This is probably a tightly ordered sequence of events where Yahweh paused and then continued speaking immediately after Moses obeyed. The quote resumes in 4:5, and there is more discussion there about how to translate the quotation resumption.

Alternate translation: [and it turned into a rod] or [and it changed into a staff]

This continues the direct quotation from the first part of 4:4. It may be more natural to reorganize verses four and five to keep the quote together. If you rearrange like this, Moses picking up the snake/staff should come after the full quotation. However, it is better to do something similar to the UST, which restates that Yahweh is speaking and provides some implied directives from Yahweh to make a complete sentence.

This quote is not a complete sentence; the UST provides a clarification. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context.

Here, them and their refer either to the Israelites or to the Israelite elders. God had instructed Moses to gather and speak to the elders; if you make this participant explicit, elders is a better option.

Here, you refers to Moses.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were three of their ancestors. They all worshiped the same God.

This word, behold, is used to create an exclamation, showing surprise.

The word like (ULT) or “as” (UST) here is used to compare how Moses’ hand looked. You may not have a word for snow in your language. If so, consider an alternative that describes something very white. You may need to make the whiteness explicit. Alternate translation: [that made it look white like wool] or [that made it look white like the sand on the beach]

This word is used to create an exclamation, showing surprise.

Here each sign is spoken of as if it had a voice with which it could speak. If this might be confusing for your readers, you could express this meaning plainly that makes explicit that the signs are meant to be proof that God sent Moses. Alternate translation: [and are not convinced that God has appeared to you by seeing the first sign, then they will be convinced by seeing the second sign.]

Here, they refers either to the Israelites or to the Israelite elders. God had instructed Moses to gather and speak to the elders; if you make this participant explicit, elders is the better option, but be sure to do the same as you did in 4:5.

Alternate translation: [they do not acknowledge … then they will acknowledge] or [they do not accept … then they will accept]

Here, they refers either to the Israelites or to the Israelite elders. God had instructed Moses to gather and speak to the elders; if you make this participant explicit, elders is the better option, but be sure to do the same as you did in 4:5.

See 3:18. Alternate translation: [to what you say]