And Moses said now introduces what Moses alone said. Aaron is no longer speaking (see verse 6). But one may also say “Moses continued” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). When the LORD gives you is literally “in Yahweh’s giving.” This introduces a dependent clause in a sentence that is incomplete. Note the dash in Revised Standard Version. Translations change this into a complete sentence in various ways. Revised English Bible adds the words “You will know this” (when the LORD gives you). Contemporary English Version has “You will know it is the LORD when he gives….” (New International Version and Translator’s Old Testament add the same words.) New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh begins with “Since it is the LORD … who will give you,” and concludes with “what is our part?” Good News Translation probably has the easiest solution, without having to add anything: “It is the LORD who will give….”

In the evening flesh to eat means “meat to eat in the evening” (Good News Translation, and similarly Contemporary English Version). And in the morning bread to the full is literally “and bread in the morning to be full.” This means “as much bread as you want in the morning” (Good News Translation), or “more than enough bread each morning” (Contemporary English Version).

Because the LORD has heard is another dependent clause. Literally it says “in Yahweh’s hearing,” which parallels “in Yahweh’s giving.” Because is implied in the structure of the sentence. Your murmurings which you murmur against him may be reduced to “your grumblings against him” (New International Version) or “how much you have complained against him” (Good News Translation). What are we? is identical with verse 7. Your murmurings are not against us but against the LORD simply states directly what is implied in verse 7. Contemporary English Version has a good model, placing the clause Because the LORD has heard at the end of the verse: “He is really the one you are complaining about, not us—we are nobodies—but the LORD has heard your complaints.”

An alternative translation model for this verse, similar to Contemporary English Version, is:

• Then Moses continued, “It is the LORD who will give you meat each evening, and more than enough bread each morning. He is really the one you are complaining about, not us—we are not important. But the LORD has heard how much you have complained against him.”

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 .