This verse begins Moses’ intercessory prayer for the Israelites. But Moses besought the LORD his God is literally “And Moses made sweet the face of Yahweh his God.” Fox has “Moshe soothed the face of YHWH his God.” This means that he “tried to pacify Yahweh his God” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “attempted to calm Yahweh his God” (Durham). Others have “implored” (New Revised Standard Version) or “pleaded with the LORD his God” (Today’s English Version). In some languages his God will be translated more naturally as “the God whom he served [or, worshiped].” And said, literally “and he said,” simply introduces Moses’ prayer to Yahweh. An alternative model for this sentence is “Moses tried to get the LORD his God to change his mind.”

O LORD, why is literally “Why, Yahweh,” using the personal name of God. Why does thy wrath burn hot against thy people is literally “why does your [singular] nose become hot against your people?” This is the same expression used in verse 10. It means “why should you be so angry with your people” (Today’s English Version). Note that Moses emphasizes that they are Yahweh’s people, in contrast with verse 7. Whom thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt is similar to verse 7, but a different word for brought forth is used, meaning “to cause to go out.”

With great power and with a mighty hand is literally “by great strength and by a strong hand.” This refers, of course, to the hand of Yahweh, which is another figure of speech that means “with great might and power” (Today’s English Version). (The same expression is used at 3.19; 13.3, 9, 16.) Contemporary English Version rearranges the clauses of the verse in a way that will be helpful for many translators: “you used your mighty power to bring these people out of Egypt. Now don’t become angry and destroy them.”

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 .