The scene suddenly shifts to the top of the mountain. And the LORD said to Moses introduces the first of five dialogues between Yahweh and Moses in chapters 32–35. The second and fourth are initiated by Moses (32.31; 33.18), and the first, third, and fifth by Yahweh (32.7; 33.1; 34.5). The use of the verb dibber (“to speak”) in this verse serves as a discourse marker and is reserved for Yahweh’s speech, except for 34.5, where the word qaraʾ (“to call out” or “to proclaim”) is used. But all the speeches of Moses are introduced by the common verb ʾamar (“to say”).

Go down, literally “You [singular] go, you descend,” uses two verbs of command to Moses. Both Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version interpret this to mean that the action is done in haste. Thus Today’s English Version has “Hurry and go back down,” and Contemporary English Version has “Hurry back down.” In some languages, however, it will be necessary to say “Hurry back down the mountain.” For your people (with singular your) already implies Yahweh’s anger in contrast to the usual “my people,” and it immediately places Moses in an awkward position of responsibility. Whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt is literally “which you [singular] caused to ascend from the land of Egypt.”

Have corrupted themselves is one short word meaning “he has become corrupt.” This word comes first in the Hebrew clause, “for corrupt [have become] your people….” Today’s English Version interprets this to mean “have sinned and rejected me.” Others have “have committed a monstrous act” (Revised English Bible), “have become depraved” (New American Bible), and “have gone to ruin” (Durham).

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 .