complete verse (Exodus 12:33)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 12:33:

  • Kupsabiny: “The Egyptians urged those people to leave that land immediately. They said that, ‘If they don’t get up and leave, we will all die!’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Now the Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave the country right away. They said, otherwise we all will die.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The Egiptohanon caused- the Israelinhon -to-hurry to leave their nation, for they said, ‘If you do- not -leave, we (excl.) all might die!’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “It came about that the Isip people urged (lit. their mouths hurried) the Israel people to leave their area quickly. And so they spoke like this, ‘If you don’t leave us quickly, then we (excl.) all will die!’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And Egyptians said to them they must leave from country quickly, because they said «If they would procrastinate, there is not one who will survive of us (incl.).»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the Israeli people did as Moses/I had told them. They went to their Egyptian neighbors and asked them for silver and gold jewelry and clothing.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exodus 12:33

And the Egyptians refers to the people in general, not just the king’s officials. Were urgent with the people is literally “they were strong over the people.” The same word is used to describe the king’s “hard” heart (4.21), but here it means to “put pressure on” (Childs). So most translations say they “urged the people,” meaning the Israelites, and in some languages it will be helpful to make this explicit; for example, “The Egyptians urged the Israelites,” or “… the people of Israel.” To send them out of the land in haste translates the word “to let go,” used in Moses’ earlier demands to the king. Here the meaning is simply “to hurry and leave the country” (Good News Translation), “to hasten their departure” (New American Bible), or “to leave their country quickly.”

For they said means the Egyptian people. We are all dead men is better in New Revised Standard Version, “We shall all be dead,” meaning “We will all be dead if you don’t leave” (Good News Translation). Revised English Bible adds “or else,” and New Jerusalem Bible adds “Otherwise.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave their country quickly. They said, “If you don’t leave, we will all die.”

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 .