The LORD said to Moses omits the conjunction waw with which most sentences in the Hebrew begin. Good News Translation (“Then the LORD said to Moses”) treats it as a transitional at the beginning of a new episode. Another way to express this transition and relate this verse to the previous chapter is “While darkness was still covering Egypt, the LORD said to Moses, ….” There is no textual or linguistic basis for New International Version‘s use of the pluperfect (“Now the LORD had said to Moses”), for the simple past tense of the verb is used. The possibility that 11.1-3 is an editorial insertion into the narrative at this point is discussed in the introductory remarks above.

Yet one plague more is literally “still one plague,” suggesting “one last plague” (Revised English Bible), or “only one more punishment” (Good News Translation). The word used here for plague has the basic meaning of touch or hurt. It is frequently used in reference to leprosy, but only here in reference to the plagues of Egypt (Jerusalem Bible “disaster”; Fox “blow”; and Durham “stroke of judgment”). In many languages it will be necessary to change the nominal clause Yet one plague more … into a verbal one; for example, “I am going to punish [or, hurt] the king of Egypt and his people one more time” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

I will bring clearly indicates that Yahweh alone will bring on this final plague. Upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt singles out “the king of Egypt” (Good News Translation), but it also includes all of “his people” (Good News Translation). Afterwards means after the plague has occurred. One may also render this as “After I have done this,” or “After I have punished the Egyptians,” or even “When I stop punishing the Egyptians.” He will let you go hence refers to all the Israelites (you is plural). Hence is literally “from this [place].” Another way to express this clause is “he will let you [plural] leave this land.”

The final clause in this verse presents some difficulty. When he lets you go is one word in the Hebrew that means “regarding his letting go”; but the you is not present. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the following word (kalah), which means “he completes,” or “it is complete,” should go with what precedes or what follows. New English Bible (and Revised English Bible) assumes that the Hebrew kalah should really be kallah (“bride”) and translates “as a man dismisses a rejected bride.” Most interpreters have not seen the need for this change, for the following words, he will drive you away, literally mean “driving he will drive you from this [place].” The emphatic form suggests that the word kalah should be understood as completely, or “without restrictions.” Up to then Pharaoh was willing to permit a partial exodus, without the families or cattle. But now Yahweh announces an exodus without limitations, which the tenth mighty act will bring about. Good News Translation translates “he will drive all of you out of here.” And New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “he will drive you out of here one and all.”

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 .