But whenever Moses went in is literally “and in Moses’ entering.” The idea of whenever comes from the verb he took … off, which is the frequentative form of the verb, meaning “he used to remove.” It is not indicated what it was that Moses entered, but before the LORD suggests the tent of meeting. So Good News Translation has “into the Tent of the LORD’s presence.” (See 33.7-11.) To speak with him means, of course, to speak with Yahweh. He took the veil off is better rendered as “he would take the veil off” (Good News Translation), adding the word “would” in order to bring out the idea of repeated action.

Until he came out is literally “until his exiting.” Good News Translation omits this phrase in order to avoid the suggestion that he put the veil on again before he came out. Verse 35 makes clear that the people saw his shining face each time he came out. (See the comment there.)

And when he came out means “whenever he came out” (Translator’s Old Testament). And told the people of Israel is better rendered as “he would tell the Israelites.” What he was commanded is quite literal, but it means “what Yahweh had commanded him to say.” Good News Translation has “everything that he has been commanded to say,” which is implied, but “everything” is not explicit in the text. Translator’s Old Testament says that “he reported the LORD’s orders to the Israelites.”

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 .