Moses said introduces Moses’ words on the following day. Eat it today refers to the manna that was cooked and kept. It may be necessary to make clear that today, which is used three times, is the seventh day, the “tomorrow” of verse 23. So one may say, for example, “On the seventh [or, next] day Moses said, ‘….’ ”

For today is a sabbath uses the word shabbath as in verse 23. Good News Translation renders this word twice in order to bring out the meaning of the word: “the Sabbath, a day of rest.” Normally a double translation like this is not recommended, but it is important for the reader to understand that sabbath means “a day of rest” rather than “seventh.” (See the following verse.) Some translators may prefer not to add “a day of rest” here, since it is not in the Hebrew, in which case a footnote may be added that says “ ‘Sabbath’ comes from the Hebrew word meaning ‘to rest,’ or ‘to stop working.’ ” To the LORD means “dedicated to the LORD” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “in honour of Yahweh” (Jerusalem Bible). You will not find it in the field means that there was no manna on the ground “outside the camp” (Good News Translation) on the seventh day.

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 .