complete verse (Exodus 33:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 33:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, the Israelites undressed/removed all the arm rings/bracelets they had in Mount Horeb.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Therefore the Israelites put off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So the Israelinhon took-off their jewelry there at Mount Horeb.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Therefore the Israel people removed their gol decorations at the base of Orep mountain and so they didn’t put those decorations on any more.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Therefore, when children of Israel left [body] from Mountain of Sinay, they not clothes good again wear from then on.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “After the Israeli people left Sinai Mountain, they did not wear jewelry any more.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 33:6

Therefore is the conjunction waw, which others translate as “So.” The people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments is literally “the sons of Israel rid themselves of their ornaments.” This means, of course, that they removed their ornaments, but the verb has a much stronger meaning. So one may say “the people of Israel no longer wore jewelry” (Good News Translation), or even “the people of Israel stopped wearing fancy jewelry” (similar to Contemporary English Version). In 3.22 and 12.36, a different form of the same word is translated as “despoiled.”

From Mount Horeb onward is literally “from Mount Horeb.” Horeb, of course, is another name for “Sinai” (Good News Translation). (See the comment at 3.1.) New International Version interprets this to mean “at Mount Horeb,” and Translator’s Old Testament has “on Mount Horeb.” But the preposition clearly means from in the sense of “from then on.” Good News Translation may be easier, “after they left Mount Sinai,” but it should include even the time remaining until they left. So one may say “from that time on and after they left Mount Sinai.”

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 .