Then I will take away my hand, literally “and I will cause my palm to go away,” continues the anthropomorphism of verse 22. And you shall see my back literally means that Moses will be able to have a rear view of Yahweh. This is a “daring anthropomorphism” which Durham avoids by translating “so that you may see where I have passed.” But most translations translate literally in order to retain the vividness of this unusual description. Here, of course, it is intentionally used in contrast with the face of Yahweh.

But my face shall not be seen: this is the common idiom used for the presence of Yahweh, but to translate my face as “My Presence” (Durham) in this verse destroys the intended vividness of the anthropomorphism. In languages that do not use the passive voice, one may translate “but you will not see my face.”

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 .