So Moses and Aaron went in is literally “And Moses went in, and Aaron,” with the singular verb. Aaron may have been an editorial insertion without changing the verb to the plural form. Went in is the same verb (“to enter”) as in verse 1, suggesting that the Pharaoh was in his palace. And said to him here has the plural form of the verb. Thus says the LORD is the important messenger formula used to convey the exact words of Yahweh (as discussed at 4.22). The God of the Hebrews is an extension of the messenger formula also found in 9.1 and 9.13 (discussed at 9.1).

How long will you refuse is literally “Until when will you refuse?” (The you is singular.) These are the LORD’s words, introduced by the messenger formula and suggesting Yahweh’s growing impatience with the Pharaoh. To humble yourself before me is literally “to be bent down from my face,” so Good News Translation has “How much longer will you refuse to submit to me?” Contemporary English Version has “How long will you stubbornly refuse to obey?”

Let my people go, that they may serve me is the demand formula discussed at 4.23a and 8.1. Note that here again the word serve means “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 .