And he said to them means “The king said” (Good News Translation). The LORD be with you is not a blessing, even though it sounds like one in English. The intended sarcasm is missed in many translations (especially New English Bible, which places this as a blessing at the end of the permission to leave). The if ever in the next phrase marks the difference, for if ever I let you and your little ones go probably means “I would just as soon wish God’s blessing on you as to let your children go with you!” (Childs). In other words, “I will never let you take your dependents with you!”

Various interpretations, however, are suggested in the many contemporary translations. Good News Translation is forceful: “I swear by the LORD that I will never let you take your women and children!” but it may be questioned that the Pharaoh would swear by the name of Yahweh, a God he refused to recognize. New Revised Standard Version is an improvement over Revised Standard Version: “The LORD indeed will be with you, if ever I let your little ones go with you!” The word for your little ones, however, probably here includes both “women and children” (Good News Translation). It therefore appears that the king was being sarcastic. Possible models for this are “I swear by Yahweh that I will never let you take…”; or “If I ever let you take … then Yahweh is with you.” However, if these do not show the intended sarcasm, it will be better to use a strong statement such as “I will never let you take your women and children with you.”

Look is understood by some to mean “beware” (New English Bible), “Be careful!” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “Take heed” (New American Standard Bible). Other translations, however, understand it as “Clearly” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “Plainly” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “It is clear.” Either choice is possible, depending on the interpretation of the following clause. You have some evil purpose in mind is literally “evil is before your faces.” It may mean “there is trouble in store for you” (New English Bible), in which case “Be careful” is appropriate for Look. Most translations, however, follow the Revised Standard Version interpretation, “Clearly, you are bent on mischief” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh); “Plainly, you are up to no good!” (New Jerusalem Bible); and “It is clear that you are plotting to revolt” (Good News Translation).

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 .