But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron introduces Aaron again for the first time since 5.20-21. But may also be understood as “So” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “then” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “Still” (New American Bible), for the reply of the LORD is insistent. This is indicated in the following clause with the word charge. Good News Translation expresses this forcefulness with “The LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.”

And gave them a charge is one word in the Hebrew, followed by to the people of Israel and to Pharaoh. It is therefore not clear just who is being charged, and translations vary in their interpretation. Childs puts it more clearly: “and gave them their orders regarding the Israelites and Pharaoh.” Contemporary English Version has “sent Aaron and Moses with a message for the Israelites and for the king.” The exact words of the charge are only suggested by the final clause, but Good News Translation supplies them in a direct quote. This type of adjustment, changing from indirect to direct speech, is possible when the words are clearly implied, and may even give the translation a more natural narrative style.

To the people of Israel is omitted in Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible because it is not in the Septuagint, but since it is in the Hebrew, it should be included. Both “the Israelites” and Pharaoh king of Egypt needed to be convinced that Moses and Aaron were under orders from the LORD. To bring the people of Israel out is literally “in order to cause to exit the people of Israel.” This means that Moses and Aaron are the ones “to lead the Israelites out of Egypt” (Good News Translation), but this is only implied. To make this clearer one may translate:

• The LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, saying, “Tell the Israelites and the king of Egypt, ‘Yahweh has ordered us [Moses and Aaron] to lead the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

Bring in English suggests that the speaker is in a different place, but it should be remembered that the setting of chapter 6 is in Egypt. Good News Translation avoids this suggestion by using “lead,” since the idea of bring is not in the Hebrew. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch suggests that “he” (the LORD) is the one who “wants to lead his people out of Egypt.” (Also New American Bible.) Of the land of Egypt may be understood as simply “from Egypt.”

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 .