And Moses built an altar means that he constructed a place for offering an animal sacrifice. The altar here was probably made of stone, although in 20.24 it was to be made of earth, and in 27.1 it was to be constructed of wood. Many cultures today have similar elevated structures for sacrificing animals or for offering gifts to a deity. Sometimes this is a stone or wood platform or table. Such terms may be used here if it is clear that this altar is dedicated to God. However, some translators in cultures where altars are unknown will express this as “A place [or, platform] for sacrificing animals.”

And called the name of it simply means “and named it” (Good News Translation). The LORD is my banner in the Hebrew is yahweh nissiy, which some translations have simply transliterated as “Yahweh-nissi” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Translator’s Old Testament). (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Adonai-nissi.”) If this form is used, then a footnote should explain that it means “The LORD is my banner.” The word for banner refers to something that is elevated, lifted high, so people can see it or see what it holds up. Thus it may be the “pole” holding up the bronze serpent (Num 21.8), or it may be some kind of symbol, sign, or flag around which soldiers will gather and prepare for battle (as in Jer 51.12, 27). Contemporary English Version does not translate banner but replaces it with what the banner represents, namely “Victory”; thus the whole verse in Contemporary English Version reads “Moses built an altar and named it ‘The LORD Gives Me Victory.’ ”

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 .