But they did not listen to Moses is quite literal, but it means “they paid no attention to Moses” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “Some of them disobeyed” (Contemporary English Version). Some left part of it till the morning is literally “and men caused to remain from it.” This may mean either they “left part of it” or they “saved part of it” (Good News Translation). New International Version and others have “they kept part of it.” The context suggests that they were afraid there would not be any more manna the next morning. Contemporary English Version restructures in a helpful way: “Some of them disobeyed, but the next morning what they kept was….”

And it bred worms is literally “and worms rose up.” The word also refers to insect larvae, so New International Version has “it was full of maggots” (so also Revised English Bible). And became foul means that “it stank” (Translator’s Old Testament). New International Version has “it began to smell,” and Good News Translation says that it “smelled rotten.”

And Moses was angry with them uses a word that simply means to become angry. Of course, in a number of languages this will be expressed idiomatically as “Moses’ heart grew hot.” This is different from the expression in 11.8, where Moses left Pharaoh “with a burning nose.”

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 .