But is a separate word meaning “on the other hand” or “nevertheless” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For this purpose is one word in Hebrew, meaning “on account of this,” and points to the clause that follows. (In the Hebrew text the same word is repeated for emphasis at the beginning of the following clause, but this is not reflected in most translations.) Have I let you live is literally “I have caused you to stand,” here meaning “I have allowed you to remain alive” (Translator’s Old Testament). So New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh have translated “I have spared you.” You here is singular, referring to the king.

To show you my power is literally “to cause you to see my strength.” This is the main reason why Yahweh has allowed the Pharaoh to live. But another reason is also given: so that my name may be declared. This second reason is connected to the first by the coordinate conjunction waw (“and”), indicating that the second reason is not dependent on the first, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation suggest. That is, the spreading of Yahweh’s name is not necessarily dependent on the Pharaoh’s being shown Yahweh’s power. New Revised Standard Version has corrected this idea by changing so that my name may be declared to “and to make my name resound.” (Similar are New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, and others.) Contemporary English Version has “to bring honor to himself [Yahweh].” In many languages it will be necessary to show that the agents for “bringing honor” are people. Thus one may say “so that people all over the world will praise [or, give honor to] me.”

My name refers not only to the sacred name YHWH but more directly to his reputation or “fame” (Good News Translation). May be declared is literally “will be counted” in the sense of “declared repeatedly.” Various translations have expressed this as “talked of” (New Jerusalem Bible), “published” (Jerusalem Bible), “recounted” (Childs), and “resound” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Throughout all the earth has been interpreted by New English Bible to mean “throughout the land,” meaning Egypt, but it more likely means, as Good News Translation puts it, “over the whole world.” In a number of languages it will be more natural style to place the clause have I let you live at the beginning of the verse and say “But I have kept you [singular] alive [or, spared your life] just to show you my power and to cause people everywhere in the world to praise me.”

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 .