Keluaran 32:32

32:32 But now, if you will forgive their sin…, ¹  but if not, wipe me out ²  from your book that you have written.” ³ 

Mazmur 69:29

69:29 I am oppressed and suffering!

O God, deliver and protect me! ⁴ 

Yesaya 4:3

4:3 Those remaining in Zion, ⁵  those left in Jerusalem, ⁶ 

will be called “holy,” ⁷ 

all in Jerusalem who are destined to live. ⁸ 

Maleakhi 3:16

3:16 Then those who respected ⁹  the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice. ¹⁰  A scroll ¹¹  was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name.

[32:32]  ¹ tn The apodosis is not expressed; it would be understood as “good.” It is not stated because of the intensity of the expression (the figure is aposiopesis, a sudden silence). It is also possible to take this first clause as a desire and not a conditional clause, rendering it “Oh that you would forgive!”

[32:32]  ² tn The word “wipe” is a figure of speech indicating “remove me” (meaning he wants to die). The translation “blot” is traditional, but not very satisfactory, since it does not convey complete removal.

[32:32]  ³ sn The book that is referred to here should not be interpreted as the NT “book of life” which is portrayed (figuratively) as a register of all the names of the saints who are redeemed and will inherit eternal life. Here it refers to the names of those who are living and serving in this life, whose names, it was imagined, were on the roster in the heavenly courts as belonging to the chosen. Moses would rather die than live if these people are not forgiven (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 356).

[69:29]  ⁴ tn Heb “your deliverance, O God, may it protect me.”

[4:3]  ⁵ tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[4:3]  ⁶ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[4:3]  ⁷ tn Or “set apart,” cf. CEV “special.”

[4:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “all who are written down for life in Jerusalem.” A city register is envisioned; everyone whose name appears on the roll will be spared. This group comprises the remnant of the city referred to earlier in the verse.

[3:16]  ⁹ tn Or “fear” (so NAB); NRSV “revered”; NCV “honored.”

[3:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “heard and listened”; NAB “listened attentively.”

[3:16]  ¹¹ sn The scroll mentioned here is a “memory book” (סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן, sefer zikkaron) in which the Lord keeps an ongoing record of the names of all the redeemed (see Exod 32:32; Isa 4:3; Dan 12:1; Rev 20:12-15).