There I will meet with the people of Israel is literally “And I will meet there with the sons of Israel.” But where is there? And it shall be sanctified is literally “and it will be made holy.” But what is it? It is not clear what the words there and it refer to. King James Version has “the tabernacle,” and American Standard Version has “the tent,” in place of it. Revised English Bible has “There, at the altar” (so also Moffatt). Most translations simply have “the place,” which includes the “tent,” the “altar,” and the entire “tabernacle.”

By my glory is “by my kavod,” which is discussed at 16.7. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “by My Presence,” and Good News Translation has “the dazzling light of my presence will make the place holy.” Sometimes the kavod is something to be seen with the eyes, as in 16.10, but it is also possible to describe it as the power of God’s presence. So here one may also say “the power of my presence will make the place holy.” If this is difficult to translate, other possibilities are “my great power will make the place holy,” or “I will be with you in all my power, and this will make the tent holy.” This, of course, comes very close to saying exactly what the following verse says.

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 .