Translation commentary on Exodus 30:22 - 24

Moreover, the LORD said to Moses is literally “And Yahweh spoke to Moses saying.” (See the comment above and at 25.1.)

Take the finest spices: the word translated spices at times refers specifically to the balsam tree or to the fragrant oily substance it secretes. But here it refers in general to similar substances from other trees or shrubs as well. The use of the colon in Revised Standard Version and the dash in Today’s English Version are attempts to show that the four substances mentioned are all spices. Since the colon and the dash are only punctuation marks and are not read aloud, it may be better to say “Take the finest spices as follows:….” These spices were not edible but were used mainly for perfumes and cosmetics. (See the comment at 25.6.)

Of liquid myrrh is literally “myrrh of flowing.” This substance came from a plant in southern Arabia and may have been available in liquid form. The “free-flowing myrrh” (New American Bible) would have been “fresh myrrh” (New Jerusalem Bible), and probably the best quality. However, it may have been marketed in the form of “sticks” (Revised English Bible), or even ground into powder (Durham), since this substance hardens slowly when exposed to the air. In cultures where myrrh is unknown, one may say, for example, “a sweet-smelling plant resin [or, sap] named ‘myrrh.’ ” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “solidified myrrh.” Five hundred shekels is literally just “five hundred”; shekels is implied from verse 24. It was evidently to be measured by weight rather than by volume. This would be about “12 pounds” (Today’s English Version), or “six kilograms.” (See the comment on shekels at 21.32.)

And of sweet-smelling cinnamon is literally “and cinnamon [of] balsam,” using the same word for sweet-smelling (besem) that is earlier used for spices. Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree found mainly in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and has a pleasing taste as well as a pleasing odor. It is often dried or ground into a powder to be used as a spice. Sweet-smelling makes it more specific, since some kinds of cinnamon are not so fragrant. In cultures where cinnamon is unknown, one may say, for example, “a sweet-smelling powder named ‘cinnamon.’ ” Half as much is literally “its half,” meaning half of the five hundred shekels. That is, two hundred and fifty is literally “fifty and two hundred.” That is has been added. This was about “six pounds” (Today’s English Version), or “three kilograms.”

And of aromatic cane is literally “and reeds of balsam.” The same word has been translated earlier as spices and sweet-smelling. This is generally understood to refer to a fragrant kind of reed that came from India, although its exact identity is not known. King James Version and American Standard Version call it “sweet calamus,” but this is now doubtful. New Jerusalem Bible has “scented reed,” and Durham has “cane spice.” One may also express it as “a sweet-smelling reed [or, cane] named ‘balsam,’ ” or more simply, “a sweet-smelling reed [or, cane],” as the name is not certain. Two hundred and fifty is the same as for the cinnamon.

And of cassia probably refers to the coarse bark of a tree similar to cinnamon, native to India and Sri Lanka. It is similar to cinnamon but inferior in quality. One may also translate as “a sweet-smelling substance named ‘cassia.’ ” Five hundred is the same measure as for the liquid myrrh. According to the shekel of the sanctuary is identical with verse 13. (See the comment there.) This reference to the shekel evidently applies to the measurement of all four spices.

And of olive oil a hin is literally “and oil of olive a hiyn.” The Hebrew word is usually transliterated. It was a unit of liquid measure, approximately equal to “one gallon” (Today’s English Version), or “four liters.” It will be possible in some languages to place this sentence at the beginning of the verse, using the idea of blended from the following verse, and translate
• Mix a gallon of olive oil with the following sweet-smelling substances: twelve pounds of myrrh, six pounds of cinnamon, six pounds of cane, and twelve pounds of cassia. Measure these according to the official [or, correct] standard.

Such a restructuring also frees the translator from repeating the words “sweet-smelling” before each of the listed items.

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 .

Translation commentary on Exod 28:15

And you shall make uses the singular you, and again it may be helpful for many translators to begin a new section as follows: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Have them make….’ ” A breastpiece of judgment should not be understood as a “breastplate” (King James Version) or piece of armor. The meaning of the word for breastpiece is uncertain. It was a kind of covering for the chest, which was worn by the high priest (verses 4, 29). It was made from a piece of square cloth and formed into a pouch in which were kept “the Urim and the Thummim” (verse 30). The word for judgment (mishpat) here refers to its use “in determining God’s will” (Today’s English Version). (See the comment on mishpat in the introduction to 20.22-26.) Other possible translations are “pouch of judgment” (Translator’s Old Testament), “judicial pouch” (Moffatt), “breastpiece of decision” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible), and “breastpiece for making decisions” (New International Version). Contemporary English Version has “breastpiece for the high priest to use in learning what I want my people to do.”

In skilled work is identical with “skillfully worked” in verse 6 and 26.1. (See the comment there.) Like the work of the ephod you shall make it (literally “an ephod,” without the definite article), may refer either to the workmanship or to the material of the ephod. Probably both meanings are intended. New Revised Standard Version has “in the style of the ephod”; \jmp Today’s English Version has “of the same materials as the ephod”; and Contemporary English Version has “From the same costly material.” (See the comment at verse 8.)

Of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff is identical with the phrase in verse 6. The word stuff is not in the Hebrew. And fine twined linen is also identical with verse 6, literally “and fine linen twisted.” (See the comment on the colors at 25.4, and on the materials at 26.1.) Shall you make it simply repeats the first part of the 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 .

Translation commentary on Exod 8:16

Then is the usual conjunction waw in the Hebrew, but here it functions as an important transition marker introducing the third plague account. The text does not indicate how much time elapsed between the second and third plagues. The LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron…”: this is a common narrative device that introduces a quote with a quote, with Yahweh (the LORD) speaking to Moses, who in turn is to speak to Aaron. As usual, Today’s English Version changes the second quote to indirect discourse: “Tell Aaron to strike the ground.” Say to Aaron may also be expressed as “Command Aaron to strike….”

Stretch out your rod and strike the dust are two commands indicating only one action. Aaron is simply to “strike the ground with his stick” (Today’s English Version). One should avoid the possible suggestion that he is to hold out his rod in one hand and hit the ground with the other. Your rod must be understood as Aaron’s rod. (See the comments on rod at 4.2 and at 7.9.) The dust of the earth probably refers to the loose soil on the ground as well as the dry, fine particles of dirt.

That it may become gnats means that “the dust will change into gnats” (Today’s English Version). This is to be another miracle of transformation (as in 7.10 and 20). The word that interprets the conjunction waw, for it is clear that the transformation will not occur until the instructions are carried out. Throughout all the land of Egypt indicates the extent of this plague; there will be gnats in all parts of the country where there is dust.

The word translated as gnats is found only here and in Psa 105.31, which refers to this same plague. (Isa 51.6 may use a different form of this word.) Its precise meaning therefore is uncertain. It probably refers to a tiny flying insect that can sting.

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 .