Then is only the conjunction waw in the Hebrew, but it serves as a connecting link with the preceding section. This suggests that the instructions of the LORD concerning the second plague were given to Moses seven days after the beginning of the first plague. Contemporary English Version makes this quite clear, beginning with verse 25 of chapter 7: “ Seven days after the LORD had struck the Nile, he said to Moses….” Note how Revised Standard Version continues from 7.25 into 8.1 as part of a single paragraph.

Go in to Pharaoh uses a verb that means “to enter,” so New English Bible has “go into Pharaoh’s presence.” Although most translations do not reflect this, it does suggest that Moses was to meet with the king inside the palace. (Similar expressions are at 9.1 and 10.1.) One way to express this is “Go in to the palace and tell the king….”

And say to him introduces a direct quotation of the words that are to be spoken to the king. Thus says the LORD is the messenger formula first used in 4.22, and it in turn introduces the demand formula Let my people go, first used in 5.1. These formulas are discussed at 4.22-23a.

These two formulas are used together six times in Exodus, here and at 5.1; 8.20; 9.1, 13; and 10.1. In this verse, however, these two formulas are given in a quote within a quote within a quote. (Note the sets of quotation marks in Revised Standard Version.) So Good News Translation changes the words “… and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “…” ’ ” to read “and tell him that the LORD says, ‘…’ ” This makes a third level quote unnecessary. (See the comment on levels of quotation at 7.16.) If necessary, one may eliminate even the final single quote in Good News Translation by translating “and tell the king of Egypt that I [Yahweh] order him to let my people go.”

Let my people go is the demand formula, which gives the exact words of Yahweh to Pharaoh (as at 4.22-23a). The verb is in the imperative mood, second person singular. My people refers to the Israelites, whom the LORD had chosen to be his people. This formula is always followed by a reason; here it is that they may serve me. (The reason in 5.1 is slightly different.) As explained at 4.22-23a, the verb for serve also means “worship” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Contemporary English Version), and it implies performing the proper rites in worship.

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 .