That they may believe continues the LORD’s speech in 4.4a that was interrupted by the narrative account in verse 4b. The they probably refers to “the Israelites,” as in 4.1. (But see 4.29-30, where the elders are the ones who witnessed this sign.) It may be necessary to introduce this clause by identifying the speaker again, as in Good News Translation: “The LORD said.” It may also be necessary to express the independent clause on which this purpose clause seems to be based. Good News Translation has “Do this to prove to the Israelites that….” New English Bible has “This is to convince the people that….” In some languages it will be helpful to begin this clause with “Do this with your walking stick to cause the Israelites to understand that….”

The LORD, the God of their fathers focuses on the personal name YHWH, and in some languages it will be helpful to say “Yahweh, who is the God of…” (See the discussion at 3.2a.) Their fathers refers to “their ancestors” (Good News Translation), as in 3.6. This formula repeats the God of … the God of … the God of … in reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It may be condensed as in Good News Translation: “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Has appeared to you is the verb phrase that goes with the LORD, but it is separated by the long formula.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• This will convince the Israelites that I have appeared to you, and that I am the LORD, the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

• The Israelites need proof that I am Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped. So do this with your walking stick to convince them that I have appeared to you.

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 .