Now therefore let me alone is literally “and now you [singular] cause rest for me.” This is a command that means “let me be” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “do not interfere with me” (Durham), or “don’t try to stop me” (Good News Translation). In contrast, of course, it anticipates that Moses will try to stop Yahweh by praying for the people. The word now means “in this situation,” or “at this time.”

That my wrath may burn hot against them is literally “and my nose will become hot against them.” This expression is used in 4.14. (See the comment there.) Some translations try to retain the figure of speech, as in “that my wrath may blaze against them” (New American Bible). The idea of the nose burning is a frequent Hebraic way of describing anger. (See also verse 19.) And I may consume them is literally “and I will finish them off.” The Hebrew verb means to complete or finish something, so here it means to “destroy” (Good News Translation) or “exterminate them.” Both clauses begin with the conjunction waw, which in this case may mean “so that” (New Revised Standard Version), or it may simply introduce an announcement, “I am angry with them, and I am going to destroy them” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version rearranges the clauses as follows: “and I’m angry enough to destroy them, so don’t try to stop me.”

But of you I will make a great nation is literally “and I will make you [singular] to a great nation.” The contrast between them (the Israelites) and you (Moses) must be emphasized. New Jerusalem Bible adds “I shall make a great nation out of you instead.” Good News Translation properly interprets this to mean “I will make you and your descendants into a great nation.”

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 .