And Aaron spoke uses the common word for speaking, which is different from the word for “told” in verse 28. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New Jerusalem Bible reflect this difference by translating “Aaron repeated,” but most versions simply have “Aaron told.” All the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses suggests that Aaron was now functioning only as a spokesperson (see verses 15-16), repeating the exact words of the LORD as reported to him by Moses. But the LORD had spoken uses the same word as in Aaron spoke. Thus “everything that the LORD had said to Moses” (Good News Translation) should probably be limited to those words that were to be repeated to the elders. So one may say “everything that the LORD had told Moses to say to the elders.”

And did the signs is literally “and he did the signs” (ʾothoth), without identifying the “he,” so the immediate context suggests that it was Aaron rather than “Moses” (Good News Translation) who “performed all the miracles” (Good News Translation). (The Hebrew does not have the word “all.”) So Good News Translation (also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) understands the pronoun “he” to refer to “Moses” on the basis of the larger context (verse 17). If the choice is for “Moses,” a footnote is advised indicating that the Hebrew says “he,” since this is definitely a minority opinion. In the sight of the people is literally “in the eyes of the people,” meaning simply “in front of the people” or “as the people were watching.” (For signs see the comment on “wonders” at 3.20.)

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 .