The anger of the LORD was kindled is literally “the nose of YHWH became hot,” but the expression simply means “the LORD became angry” (Good News Translation). Some languages may be able to retain some of this graphic description with a similar expression: “When he heard Moses’ words the LORD’s heart became hot,” or “The LORD’s heart [or liver, or stomach] burned [or, pained] against Moses.” A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark, page 106, contains some other excellent figurative expressions for anger. Examples are “to have a cut heart” or “to have a swollen heart.” Against Moses goes naturally with kindled, but “with Moses” goes with “became angry.”

Is there not Aaron is another negative rhetorical question that calls for the obvious answer, “There is.” A declarative statement as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh may therefore be more natural. Your brother can mean either son of the same parents or distant relative, so a more general term can be used in translation. If one has to be specific, then Aaron should be understood as an elder brother, as indicated in Exo 7.7.

To refer to Aaron as the Levite, however, is strange, since both Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi. In this verse, therefore, the term should be understood as a title rather than as a reference to his descent, reflecting the priestly role later assigned to him. As such it should be transliterated rather than translated. Another way to restructure the first part of this verse is “Your elder brother Aaron, the Levite! What do you think of [or, about] him?” He can speak well is emphatic in the Hebrew; it means that Aaron is able to speak readily, fluently, and with eloquence. Another way to render this is “He’s an orator.”

And behold suggests the idea of “In fact” (Good News Translation) or “As a matter of fact.” He is coming out to meet you is present progressive, for the idea is that “he is now coming to meet you,” or “he is already on his way” (New English Bible). Where he is coming from is not indicated, but the idea of coming out anticipates their meeting each other out in the wilderness, even at that very mountain. (See verse 27.) And when he sees you he will be glad in his heart simply means that he “will be glad to see you” (Good News Translation). It is not necessary to mention the heart; it was thought of as the center of the emotions, so the expression is idiomatic. However, in many languages glad will be expressed with figurative or idiomatic expressions using the heart, liver, or viscera; for example, “When he sees you his heart will feel good” (Thai Common Language Version).

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 .