Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD refers to “the kavod of Yahweh,” as mentioned in verse 16. The word for appearance comes from the verb “to see,” so this verse describes what the people of Israel actually saw. Like a devouring fire is literally “like a fire eating.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and others have “a consuming fire.” Good News Translation interprets this simply as “a fire burning.” On top of the mountain refers to the “peak,” literally the “head,” of the mountain.

In the sight of the people of Israel, literally “in the eyes of the sons of Israel,” explains further that this was what the glory of the LORD looked like “to the Israelites” (Good News Translation). This verse supports Good News Translation‘s usual rendering of the glory of the LORD as “the dazzling light of the LORD’s presence.”

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 .