This verse may be understood either as a miracle or as a command, so it should be examined carefully. On the sixth day anticipates the seventh day, or sabbath. In some languages it will be good to say “the sixth day of each week” (Contemporary English Version). When they prepare is literally “and it will be that they will make ready.” What they bring in refers to the manna they will gather. It will be twice as much means it will be [or, become] double. As they gather daily is literally “over what they will gather day by day.” One may also express this as “what they gather on ordinary days,” or even “what they normally [or, usually] gather.”

The text is ambiguous, and most translations follow it quite literally. But what does it mean? Does it mean that the usual amount they gather will suddenly become twice as much, or does it mean that there will be enough manna out on the ground for them to gather twice as much? Verse 22 suggests the latter, so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “they should gather as much as they find. When they prepare it they will discover that it is twice as much as they have usually gathered.” Good News Translation makes it a command: “they are to bring in twice as much as usual and prepare it.” Contemporary English Version is similar: “they must gather and cook twice as much.” Since the ambiguity seems to be unintentional, this second meaning should be followed.

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 .