An altar of earth means an elevated place made out of soil for offering sacrifices, and this is how it will be expressed in a number of languages; for example, “Build up an elevated place with earth.” (See the comments at 17.15 and 27.1.) You shall make for me may be understood as “to me,” or better, “for worshiping me.” You now switches back to singular. New Revised Standard Version brings out the idea that Yahweh will be satisfied with a simple altar: “You need make for me only an altar of earth.” This is suggested by the alternative mentioned in verse 25.

And sacrifice on it is literally “and you [singular] will slaughter upon it,” or “Offer on it animals which you have slaughtered.” Your burnt offerings refers to the offering of animals that were burned completely on the altar, with the exception of the hide, which went to the priest (Lev 7.8). And your peace offerings refers to the offering of animals that were not burned. The meat was divided among the priests and the worshipers. The purpose of this offering was to restore shalom or fellowship with someone else. So one may translate “and your offerings to restore fellowship with other people.” (This offering is described in Leviticus 3.) Good News Translation has “your fellowship offerings,” and New Revised Standard Version calls them “offerings of well-being.” (See the discussion of these two kinds of offerings at 29.18, 28.)

The animals used for these offerings were sheep and oxen. But the Hebrew word for sheep is a general term that included both “sheep and goats” (New International Version). Oxen means “cattle,” both male and female. (See the comment at 9.2-3.) In every place where I cause my name to be remembered is a literal translation. It means, as Good News Translation expresses it, “in every place that I set aside for you to worship me,” “Wherever I choose to be worshiped” (Contemporary English Version), or “wherever I direct you to invoke my name” (Translator’s Old Testament). Childs has “in every place where I reveal my name.” However, “worship” (Good News Translation) seems to be the most likely meaning here. I will come to you and bless you uses the singular you. Come probably means “come down.” The word for bless implies that Yahweh will give power for fertility, prosperity, and success. Bless has many meanings depending upon the context. Since here it refers to conferring prosperity upon the people, one may express it as “I will come down to you and cause you to be prosperous” or “and make you prosper.”

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 .