43 The text literally says, “and he turned thus and thus” (וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה, vayyifen koh vakhoh). It may indicate that he turned his gaze in all directions to ascertain that no one would observe what he did. Or, as B. Jacob argues, it may mean that he saw that there was no one to do justice and so he did it himself (Exodus, 37–38, citing Isa 59:15–16).
44 Heb “he saw that there was no man.”
45 The verb וַיַּךְ (vayyakh) is from the root נָכָה (nakhah, “to smite, attack”) which is used in v. 11. This new attack is fatal. The repetition of the verb, especially in Exodus, anticipates the idea of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” The problem is, however, that Moses was not authorized to take this matter into his own hands in this way. The question the next day was appropriate: “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” The answer? No one—yet.
46 Heb “him”; for stylistic reasons the referent has been specified as “the body.”

In other versions

He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead and hid him in the sand.

After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.

And he turned here and there, and he saw no one, and he struck the Egyptian, and he hid him in the sand.

And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

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