And the LORD said, literally “And Yahweh said,” may be omitted, since Yahweh continues to speak. Behold is a word that calls attention to what is going to be said. It has become archaic in English, but other languages are able to retain it naturally. (See the comment at 1.9.) New Revised Standard Version has “See,” and Durham has “Look,” but some omit it entirely or combine it with what follows.
There is a place by me is literally “a place with me.” There is is supplied in addition to the Behold, but Good News Translation has “here is a place beside me.” This suggests that Moses is already up on the mountain with Yahweh. Others seem to interpret it in the same way. Such an interpretation is possible if the Behold is understood as “Look” or “See.” The wider context, however, suggests that Moses was still down at the foot of the mountain, possibly in the tent of meeting. (See 34.4 and the introductory comments to this chapter.) So there is to be preferred.
Where you shall stand upon the rock is literally “and you shall stand upon the rock.” The word for stand also means “to take one’s stand” or “to station oneself.” (See 2.4; 17.9; and others.) The rock, of course, was located on Mount Sinai. The word refers to a boulder or large stone. Good News Translation renders this first sentence as “but here is a place beside me where you can stand on a rock.” However, it is also possible to reorder the clauses and translate “There is a rock not far from me. Stand on it!”
And while my glory passes by is literally “and it shall be in the passing by of my kavod.” (For kavod see verse 18 and the comment at 16.7.) An alternative rendering is “and while I pass by with my dazzling light, I….” I will put you in a cleft of the rock is literally “and I will place you in a crevice of the rock.” The word for cleft also means a hole or a gap. This probably refers to a vertical crack in a large section of the rock in which Moses could position himself. Good News Translation has “opening in the rock,” while Contemporary English Version has “a large crack.”
And I will cover you with my hand is literally “and I will hold [or, cover] my palm over you [singular].” The word for cover means to “shield” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “screen” (Durham). Until I have passed by suggests the picture of Yahweh reaching ahead to cover Moses with his hand, then keeping his hand over the cleft of the rock as he walks on by, and then reaching back until he is at a safe distance before removing his hand. This description is very “anthropomorphic,” meaning that God describes himself as though he were human. This anthropomorphism should be retained in translation if at all possible.
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 .