It is a sign for ever uses the same word for sign as verse 13. (See the comment there.) Contemporary English Version, however, has a good alternative model, “This day will always serve as a reminder,” or one may also say “When you keep the Sabbath it will always remind you that….” The word for for ever is the same word translated as “perpetual” in verse 16. Between me and the people of Israel (literally “the sons of Israel”) is really the way the verse begins, with It is a sign for ever coming next.

That in six days the LORD made heaven and earth is literally “because six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth.” It is identical with 20.11. And on the seventh day he rested uses the verb shavath, meaning to cease, or to stop working. A different word for rested is used in 20.11. And was refreshed is literally “and he breathed,” or “he caught his breath” (Durham). The verb is derived from nefesh and is also translated “refreshed” in 23.12. New Jerusalem Bible has “and drew breath,” and Translator’s Old Testament has “and regained his strength.” In order to avoid the anthropomorphism, Good News Translation translates the two verbs as “I stopped working and rested,” and Contemporary English Version has “then on the seventh day I rested and relaxed.”

Note that this concludes both Yahweh’s words to Moses and Yahweh’s words to the people through Moses, both of which began in verse 12.

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 .