Verses 2-3 are the second of three passages where the same idea is mentioned. In 3.21-22 it is in reference to the future; here it refers to the present situation; and 12.35-36 records what had already been done. The similarities and differences in these three passages should be carefully noted in translation.
Speak now is singular, spoken only to Moses, but the word for now does not mean “at this moment.” It is an enclitic (a small word added on to another) that softens a command, or indicates a request, or suggests urgency. Good News Translation‘s “Speak now” and Contemporary English Version‘s “Now go and tell” soften the meaning of now, but many translations omit the now entirely. In the hearing of the people is literally “in the ears of the people”; this is a Hebraism that is not natural in English. However, in a number of languages similar expressions will be natural; for example, “in their hearing,” “as they are listening,” or “to let them hear.” Together with the command Speak now, the expression simply means “Tell the people” (New Revised Standard Version). (New American Bible) has “Instruct your people,” and Contemporary English Version has “Now go and tell my people.” Neither “your” nor “my” is in the Hebrew, but the context clearly indicates that the people refers only to the Israelites and not to the Egyptians. Good News Translation makes this clear by adding “the people of Israel.”
That they ask uses a word that also means to borrow, as in King James Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, but most translations prefer “ask.” The idea of borrowing may suggest that the Israelites were deceitful, since they certainly intended to escape for good. (See the discussion on “ask” at 3.22.) Every man … every woman is the compound subject of ask, expressed in this way to emphasize that “all of them,” that is, all the Israelites, are to do the asking. His neighbor … her neighbor is the compound object of the verb ask, which must be understood as “their neighbors” (Good News Translation), or “the people living near them,” meaning, of course, their Egyptian neighbors. The meaning of neighbor is discussed at 3.22. It may be important to specify “both men and women” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “men and women alike” (New International Version).
Jewelry may be too specific, for the word can also mean “objects” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “articles” (New American Bible, New International Version), or “ornaments” (Jerusalem Bible). But of silver and of gold indicates that these items were of value. So one may translate jewelry as “precious objects made of silver and gold.” Some have suggested that may have been the source of precious metal used for the tabernacle (35.22-24) and even the golden calf (32.2-4). “Clothing” (New American Bible) is mentioned in 3.22 and 12.35, but the Hebrew text does not list it here.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Now go and tell my people to ask the Egyptian women and men who live near them to give them precious objects made of silver and gold.
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 .