Then Pharaoh said to him is better expressed as “He said to Moses” (Good News Translation), for the pronoun him properly refers to Moses in verse 25 and not to the LORD in verse 27. This awkward use of the pronoun is probably the result of an editorial insertion (“E”) of verse 27 into the Yahwist dialogue (“J”) of verses 24-29.

Get away from me is literally “Go from upon me.” It is a strong command that may be expressed as “Get out of my sight!” (Good News Translation), “Be off! Leave me!” (Revised English Bible), or “Get out and stay out!” (Contemporary English Version). Take heed to yourself is a warning meaning “Be on your guard!” or “Watch yourself!” Never see my face again is literally “Do not add to see my face.” It may be joined to the preceding warning to mean “Make sure you do not appear before me again!” (New International Version), or better, “Don’t let me ever see you again!” (Good News Translation).

For in the day you see my face you shall die is quite literal from the Hebrew and seems to place the initiative with the Pharaoh. But the warning actually places the responsibility upon Moses. Because of this Good News Translation reads much better: “On the day I do [meaning “On the day you let me see you again”] you will die!”

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 .