The LORD said to Moses is literally “And Yahweh spoke to Moses saying.” This introduces the words of Yahweh that continue uninterrupted all the way to chapter 30 verse 10. The word meaning “to say” (ʾamar) is the usual term to introduce the exact words that someone says, whereas the word meaning “to speak” (dibber) comes from the Hebrew davar (“word” or “event”) and does not always introduce a direct quotation. This longer formula is used again in 30.11, 17, 22; 31.1. It may be helpful to connect this section of discourse to the previous one with something like “While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the LORD said to him, ….” Speak to the people of Israel does not introduce the exact words for Moses to speak, so it is better to say “Tell the Israelites” (Good News Translation) as an introduction to indirect speech. That they take for me an offering is literally “and they will take for me a contribution.” But the people are the ones to give, so it is better to say “Tell the Israelites to make an offering to me” (Good News Translation) or “set aside a contribution for me” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Tell the Israelite people to bring me gifts.” However, in languages that must use direct speech, one may say, for example, “Tell the Israelites, ‘Any of you who are willing to give an offering….’ ” The word for offering has the basic meaning of something that is lifted up, or dedicated, but in many languages it will be expressed as “gifts for me.”

From every man does not intend to exclude women, so New Revised Standard Version has changed this to “from all.” See also New Jerusalem Bible “from everyone,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “from every person.” Whose heart makes him willing is literally “who his heart urges him.” This may be expressed as “whose heart so moves him” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “whose heart prompts him to give.” Good News Translation has “whatever offerings anyone wishes to give.” You shall receive the offering for me is literally “you [singular] shall take my offering.” Contemporary English Version restructures the clauses in verse 2 as follows: “Tell everyone in Israel who wants to give gifts that they must bring them to you.” One may also express this as “Tell all the Israelites, ‘Any of you who want to give gifts to Yahweh must bring them to me.’ ”

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 .