And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder is literally “and the sound of the ram’s horn was the one going and very strong.” The participle (“the one going”) indicates that the sound “became louder and louder” (Good News Translation), or “sounded louder and louder.” This may suggest an increase in volume at the source. However, Durham argues that the participle should be translated literally, meaning that the sound itself was actually coming down with Yahweh to the mountain. So Durham has “The sound of the ram’s horn meanwhile was moving, and growing very strong.” This interpretation should be helpful in languages that must distinguish between sound at the source and sound at the receiving end. Another way to express this, then, is “The sound of the trumpet [or, ram’s horn] was coming down [meaning toward Moses] and getting louder and louder.”

Moses spoke is so brief that there is no indication of what he said or to whom he spoke. We may assume that he spoke to Yahweh, for it says that God answered him in thunder. But the Hebrew is ambiguous. The word for thunder (qoloth) is usually plural in form, as in verse 16. Here, however, the singular form heb qol is used, which usually means “a voice” (King James Version, American Standard Version, Childs). But qol is also used for sound in the first part of the verse. Since “sound” is the more basic meaning of qol, it is better to follow Translator’s Old Testament, “Each time Moses spoke God answered him audibly.” Translators are urged to follow this interpretation. Another way to express it is “Each time Moses spoke, God answered him with a loud voice like thunder.”

The two verbs, spoke and answered, suggest that this was repeated action rather than one time only. So Revised English Bible has “Whenever Moses spoke, God answered him.” Childs has “Moses was speaking and God was answering him.” New Revised Standard Version has “Moses would speak and God would answer him.” It should be noted that, in the present context, Moses is still at the foot of the mountain. He does not go up again until the next verse.

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 .