But (Hebrew waw) here introduces a description of sharp contrast for the people of Israel. The word against may be interpreted as “among” or “at” (Good News Translation), depending on how the dog is understood. (See below.) Either man or beast does not fit well in reference to the people of Israel, so the two phrases are better rendered as Good News Translation puts it, “the Israelites or their animals.”
Not a dog shall growl is literally “a dog will not sharpen [or, point] his tongue.” This is interpreted in New English Bible as “not a dog’s tongue shall be so much as scratched,” but Revised English Bible (and others) takes it to mean “not even a dog’s bark” will be heard. Although dogs were domesticated and appreciated by the Egyptians, the Israelites did not like them. So it is unlikely that these dogs belonged to the Israelites. But they were probably allowed to run loose throughout Egypt. Therefore the idiom should probably be translated “not even a dog will bark at” or “snarl at” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), meaning that neither the Israelites nor their animals will be disturbed in the least. New Revised Standard Version has “But not a dog shall growl at any of the Israelites—not at people, not at animals—so that….” It is possible to convey this idea of “peace and quiet” by translating “It will be very quiet where the Israelites live. Not even a dog will bark at them or at their animals.”
That you may know is plural, even though the singular pronoun is used in verse 8. It should be assumed that the you refers to the Pharaoh and his people. (The problem of identifying the addressee is discussed in the introduction to this section, 11.1-10, and at verse 4.) It is not clear, however, who is speaking here. Good News Translation assumes that Moses is still speaking Yahweh’s words, which were introduced by the messenger formula in verse 4. But New English Bible and New International Version assume that these are now Moses’ words, so that the quotation of Yahweh’s words is understood to close in Revised Standard Version after a dog shall growl. However, translators are encouraged to follow Good News Translation‘s interpretation. Another way to express this is “Then you Egyptians will know….”
That the LORD makes a distinction is changed to “that I make a distinction” in Good News Translation, to show that these are still Yahweh’s words. The same word for distinction is used in 9.4 in reference to the cattle of the Israelites and the cattle of the Egyptians. Between the Egyptians and Israel may be read as “between Egypt and Israel” (New Revised Standard Version), or as “between the Egyptians and the Israelites” (Good News Translation). Durham has “that Yahweh has separated Israel from the Egyptians.” The meaning, of course, is that the LORD will bring anguish only to the Egyptians and not to the Israelites.
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 .