Then Moses brought the people out indicates that Moses was now with them and not up on the mountain. Some translations have “led the people out” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This is possible, since the Hebrew literally says “he caused the people to go out,” and in a number of languages this will be a natural way to express this clause. Out of the camp, literally “from the camp,” refers to the entire settlement of the Israelites that was beside Mount Sinai (see verse 2). In some languages this will be expressed as “out of the place where they had set up their tents.”

To meet God is literally “to encounter the ʾelohim.” New International Version has “to meet with God,” but “with” is not in the Hebrew. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “toward God,” but this does not bring out the idea of an encounter. Another way to express to meet God is “to come face-to-face with God.” Moses’ role as mediator, or “go-between,” now becomes more than just passing messages from one party to the other. And they took their stand at the foot of the mountain means “they stationed themselves” (New American Bible), or “they took a position at the bottom of the mountain” (Durham), or simply “they stood at the foot of the mountain.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .