And Aaron said to them introduces Aaron’s response to the people’s request, so New International Version has “Aaron answered them,” and New American Bible has “Aaron replied.” Take off the rings of gold uses a very strong verb that literally means “pull away,” or “tear off.” Translator’s Old Testament has “Cut off the gold earrings,” and New American Bible has “Strip off the gold rings.” This may suggest Aaron’s impatience with the people for requesting an image of a god, but most translations soften the verb to “Take off the gold earrings” (see Good News Translation and others).

Which are in the ears indicates that these were indeed “earrings” rather than nose rings or finger rings. The word for rings has a general meaning, but it is different from the word used for the rings on the ark (25.12) and on Aaron’s breastpiece (28.23). Of your wives, your sons, and your daughters indicates that earrings were worn by men as well as women. New English Bible and Revised English Bible omit your sons on the basis of the Septuagint, but the Hebrew clearly specifies both sons and daughters. And bring them to me is literally “and you [plural] cause them to come unto me,” meaning the earrings, not the people wearing 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 .