No man shall come up with you is literally “And a man will not ascend with you [singular].” As in verse 2, the Hebrew does not distinguish between come up and “go up” (Revised English Bible); but in a number of languages “come up” will be more natural, agreeing with verse 2. And let no man be seen throughout all the mountain is literally “and even a man will not be seen in all the mountain.” This means, as Good News Translation translates, “no one is to be seen on any part of the mountain.” Another way to express this is “I don’t want to see anyone on any part of the mountain.” Contemporary English Version renders the two clauses as “No one is to come up with you or to be on the mountain at all.” The form of the verb with the negative particle also suggests a command, so New Revised Standard Version has “do not let anyone be seen” (New Revised Standard Version). “Do not let me see anyone” is also possible.

Let no flocks or herds feed is literally “even the flock and the herd will not graze.” Here also the verb form suggests a prohibition. Feed or “graze” (Good News Translation) here means “to eat grass.” The word for flocks refers to small domesticated animals, specifically sheep and goats. The word for herds is the same word used for “cattle” (Good News Translation). (See the comments on herds and flocks at 9.2-3.) These two terms are intended to include all domesticated animals. Before that mountain is literally “unto the front of that mountain.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version take this to mean “at the foot of the mountain” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Translator’s Old Testament). Durham has “anywhere near that mountain.” Both are possible interpretations, and the meaning is very similar. Revised English Bible‘s “within sight of that mountain” goes beyond what is intended.

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 .