Thus translates the conjunction waw. If such a connecting word is needed here (Good News Translation and others omit it), one may translate “In this way.” I will put a division follows the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew. Most translations follow the Greek because it is difficult to make sense from the Hebrew, which reads “I will place redemption.” By changing just one letter in the Hebrew word, as the Greek suggests, “redemption” becomes “distinction.” (See 9.4, where this different Hebrew word is used.) Translators following this reading should add a footnote to show this change, as both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have done. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, it should be noted, defends the Hebrew reading by suggesting a rather awkward translation: “and I shall posit an act of deliverance between my people and your people.” Bible en français courant seems to follow this with “I will preserve my people from the misfortune that will strike your country” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, “I will keep my people free from the insects with which your people will be plagued”). Translators may choose between these two interpretations. See the alternative translation model below, which follows the interpretation taken by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Between my people and your people means, of course, between the LORD’s people and the king’s people, or between the Israelites and the Egyptians. These are still the words of the LORD, which will be announced to the Pharaoh. It is possible to place the first sentence of this verse after verse 22a and combine the two verses as follows:

• When the swarms of flies come, I will make a distinction between your people and my people; the flies will not bother my people in the region of Goshen, but they will torment your people. This miracle will happen tomorrow.

By tomorrow means that the plague “will happen tomorrow,” or “will take place tomorrow” (Good News Translation). The king will thus have twenty-four hours to think about this warning, from the time Moses will speak to him until the LORD sends the “swarms of flies.” Shall this sign be uses the same word used in 3.12. Here as there it means a special act, or event, or other demonstration of God’s presence. In this case it refers to the plague of flies as a “miracle” or supernatural proof of the LORD’s action. (See the comment on “wonders” at 3.20.)

It is important to note that this verse concludes the quote within a quote within a quote. Revised Standard Version carefully marks this with double, single, and double quotation marks.

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 .