If her father utterly refuses, literally “If [ʾim] refusing her father refuses,” uses the emphatic form of the verb. New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible have “If her father absolutely refuses.” To give her to him is literal, so Good News Translation changes it to “to let him marry her,” and Contemporary English Version has “refuses to let her marry the man.” One may also express this as “refuses to let him take her as his wife” or “refuses to give her to the man as his wife.”

He shall pay money is literally “he will weigh out silver,” but silver was also the term used for money. The amount of money is not specified, other than equivalent to the marriage present for virgins. (See the comment at verse 16.) “The bride price for a virgin” (Good News Translation) was evidently well known. It was probably less than the “fifty shekels of silver” mentioned in Deut 22.29, for that was the amount required in cases of rape. And this situation implies the willingness on the part of the virgin. (See verse 16.)

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 .