And you shall say to the people of Israel is literally “And unto the sons of Israel you [singular] shall speak, saying.” This introduces a quote within a quote that continues through verse 33. What follows are Yahweh’s words that Moses is to speak to the Israelites.

This shall be my holy anointing oil is literally “oil of anointing of holiness this shall be to me.” (See verse 25.) The pronoun my refers to Yahweh, not to Moses. This may be made clearer in one of two ways: 1) by introducing the words that Moses is to say, with “The LORD says”; or 2) by changing my to “the LORD’s holy anointing oil” (so Moffatt). The words “to me” may also mean “for me,” and Good News Translation follows this interpretation, “in my service.” Translators may wish to express the meaning of the words my and holy as a separate sentence: “It is holy because it is dedicated to the LORD [or, to me].”

There is also a textual problem here, in that the Septuagint reads “to you [plural]” instead of “to me.” Only a few translations, however, follow this reading. New Jerusalem Bible has “This anointing oil will be holy for you,” and Jerusalem Bible has “You must hold this chrism holy.” Throughout your generations, literally “to [or, for] your [plural] generations,” is identical with verse 10.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Say to the people of Israel, “You [plural] must always use this oil when you ordain a priest. It is holy [or, taboo] because you have dedicated it to the LORD [or, to me].

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 .