These are still the words that Yahweh commands Moses to speak to the Pharaoh. But it is not clear whether they are still meant to be Yahweh’s direct words to him or simply Moses’ words. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation show these verses as a continuation of the third level quote, that is, as the exact words of Yahweh that Moses is to announce to the Pharaoh. Other translations, however, close the third level quote at the end of verse 1, so that verse 2 returns to the second level (so New English Bible, New International Version, and Translator’s Old Testament). Still others are almost as ambiguous as the Hebrew text, which has no quotation marks at all. It should be noted that Good News Translation still identifies three quote levels by using indirect speech for the second level. Contemporary English Version, however, only implies the first level quote and identifies the second level by format only (without quotation marks); the third level is shown by indirect speech.

In many languages the use of quotation marks to show embedded quotes will be more confusing than helpful, and in such cases they should not be used. However, it is still necessary for the translator first to identify at every quotation level who it is who is speaking and to whom the words are directed. This is information that should be made clear to the intended readers, but it should be presented according to what is commonly done in their language. Before translating verse 2, therefore, translators should study the different models suggested for verses 1-4 in the discussion at verse 4 below.

If the Revised Standard Version option is followed, showing verses 1b-4 as Yahweh’s words to Pharaoh (third level quote), it may sound strange in the translation for Yahweh to refer to himself as the LORD in direct speech. But this is not unusual in the Hebrew text, as verse 5 indicates. For this reason Good News Translation changes the third person to first person (“I will punish” in verse 2, and “I will make a distinction” in verse 4). Some scholars, however, see this as an indication that verses 2-4 are intended to be Moses’ words to Pharaoh (second level quote), as dictated by Yahweh. It may be easier to follow the New English Bible option, which requires no adjustment, and close the third level quote at the end of verse 1. If translators decide that it is now Moses who is speaking at the beginning of verse 2, it will be necessary to signal this clearly in some way, especially for those people who will be hearing the text read aloud. The following are two examples:

• … so that they may worship me.’ That’s what Yahweh says. I [Moses] tell you, if you refuse….”

• … so that they may worship me.’ I, Moses, warn you, if you refuse….”

For if represents two words in the Hebrew. For means “Because” and serves as a connective with verse 1. Together the two words form an emphatic “If.” If you refuse to let them go is literally “For if you refuse to send out.” The pronoun them is only implied, but it refers to the Israelites. And still hold them is not found in Good News Translation, but the word still is translated as “again.” Another way to express this is “If you keep on refusing to release them.”

Behold is a word to draw attention to what follows. Good News Translation usually omits it, but New American Bible translates it here as “I warn you.” The hand of the LORD is figurative language for the power of Yahweh that will come as another plague. Will fall is literally “it is on,” or “it will be against.” New Revised Standard Version has “will strike,” and Good News Translation interprets this as “will punish.” The object of the preposition upon is your cattle, a term that seems to be preferred in this story and in the story of the hailstorm (see 9.19-21). It is a broad term that sometimes means “possessions” or “property,” but it usually refers to “animals.” Here it is defined more specifically as cattle which are in the field and refers in general to all the domesticated “animals” named in the following list. Your is singular, referring to the Pharaoh, and is used only with the first word, cattle, or “livestock” (New Revised Standard Version). But all the other “animals” of Egypt are included, as the following list suggests. Good News Translation‘s “all your animals” is a helpful model.

With a very severe plague is three words in the Hebrew that are placed at the end of the verse for emphasis, “plague heavy very!” The word for plague refers to a disease that is usually fatal. King James Version translates it here as “murrain” to identify it as a contagious animal disease, but the same word is used in 5.3 and 9.15 in reference to a human disease, or “pestilence.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version simply call it “a terrible disease.”

Horses and asses are different animals. In Egypt the horse was a symbol of power and wealth and was used mainly in war. The ass, or “donkey,” is smaller than the horse, with shorter legs and longer ears. It was the beast of burden used for carrying cargo and for agriculture work. (For “donkey” see also “ass” and the comment at 4.20.) Both the horse and the ass were used for transportation, but the ass was the common work animal. In cultures where horses and donkeys are unknown, it will be helpful to include illustrations of these animals.

Camels in Egypt and in most biblical references were the Arabian kind with just one hump, not the long-haired two-humped Bactrian variety found farther north. Again it will be helpful to include an illustration of a one-humped camel. The herds were the domesticated cattle used for work, as well as for milk, food, and clothing. They are here distinguished from the flocks, which included the smaller animals, particularly the “sheep” and the “goats.” In some languages one will need to translate herds or “cattle” as “the cows and oxen,” while in cultures where cattle are unknown, one may employ a descriptive phrase such as “large work animals named ‘cow.’ ” It will also be helpful to include illustrations of these animals. (See the discussion on “Borrowed vocabulary” in “Translating Exodus,” page 3.) In languages where none of these animals are known, one may say something like “I will punish you by sending a terrible disease on all the animals that you use for food or to help you work.”

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 .