Then bring near to you Aaron your brother is literally “And you [singular], you cause to come near unto you Aaron your brother.” Good News Translation omits the Then (waw), which can be misleading, since this new section does not necessarily follow in sequence from chapter 27. Again it may be helpful at the beginning of a new section of discourse to begin the sentence with, for example, “The LORD said to Moses, …” or “The LORD commanded Moses, ….” The verb bring near may mean simply “Have Aaron your brother brought to you” (New International Version), but the context may suggest the more formal setting of a public ceremony. Bring near may also be expressed as “Have them bring … here.” The phrase from among the people of Israel, literally “from the midst of the sons of Israel,” suggests the act of selection and separation, even induction. So Contemporary English Version has “They are the ones I have chosen from Israel.”

This first verse serves as a “preview” or “superscription” to chapters 28 and 29. (See the comment at 3.2a.) It refers to the entire act of establishing a priesthood, including the consecration of the priests after the tabernacle is set up. As mentioned above, Revised Standard Version‘s use of Then is misleading, for the command does not mean to call for Aaron … and his sons in order to measure them for their vestments. Good News Translation uses two verbs for bring near in order to bring out this fuller meaning: “Summon” and “Separate them from the people” (similarlyTranslator’s Old Testament).

Aaron your brother may have to be translated as “your older brother” in some languages. (See 7.7.) And his sons with him refers to the four who are named: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. They are listed in the same order as in the genealogy (see 6.23), which represents the order of their birth. To serve me as priests is literally “for him to priest to [or, for] me,” where a verb form of “priest” is used. Durham has “to give priestly ministry to me,” and American Standard Version has “that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.” Contemporary English Version stresses God’s choosing by adding “my priests.” (See the comment on priest at 2.16.)

A possible alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The LORD commanded Moses, “Have them bring your older brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar here. They are the ones I have chosen from the people of Israel to serve me as my priests.

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 .