And the LORD said to Moses: In this verse the LORD responds to Moses’ doubt. New International Readers Version renders this clause as “The LORD answered Moses.”

Is the LORD’s hand shortened?: With this rhetorical question the LORD rebukes Moses for doubting his ability to do what he promises. Good News Translation expresses the meaning of this idiom more clearly by using nonfigurative language, saying “Is there a limit to my power?” If possible, it is worthwhile to preserve the image of the LORD’s hand, which refers to his power, since it is such a common figure in the Hebrew Bible. New Living Translation keeps it by saying “Has my arm lost its power?” and so does Levine with “Is anything beyond the reach of the LORD’s arm?” Both Good News Translation and New Living Translation change the third person reference to the LORD to first person since he is speaking.

Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not: Good News Translation should have included the phrase for you in this sentence. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh does so by saying “You shall soon see whether what I have said happens to you or not!”

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .