You shall not bow down to their gods uses the singular you but refers to all the Israelites. The verb bow down is identical with 20.5. (See the comment there.) Their gods means the gods of the various groups mentioned in verse 23. (See the comment on “gods” at 12.12.) Nor serve them is also identical with 20.5. Serve here means to “worship” (Good News Translation), and so the pronoun them refers to the gods.

Nor do according to their works is ambiguous. It is not clear whether their refers to the people’s works or to the gods’ works, nor whether the word for do means to act or to make. New Revised Standard Version has changed Revised Standard Version to “or follow their practices,” interpreting the pronoun their to refer to the people rather than to the gods. However, Durham has “you are not to do their will,” understanding their to refer to the gods. And New American Bible has “nor shall you make anything like them,” understanding do as “make,” and “them” as the gods. Good News Translation‘s “do not adopt their religious practices” is probably what is meant, although Durham’s interpretation means practically the same. So a possible alternative model will be “do not do the things they think their gods want them to do.”

But you shall utterly overthrow them is literally “for [ki] destroying you [singular] shall destroy them.” Contemporary English Version has “instead” rather than But. (See the comment on ki at verse 23.) This is the emphatic use of the verb as in 21.12, so utterly has been added. One may also say “completely destroy.” Here again, however, it is not clear whether them refers to the people or to their gods. New Revised Standard Version has changed overthrow to “demolish,” interpreting them as the gods. This is the better choice, so it is good to make it explicit; for example, one may say “Destroy their gods” (Good News Translation), or “Tear down all their images” (Revised English Bible), or even “Destroy their idols.”

And break their pillars in pieces, literally “breaking you shall break,” refers to breaking down “their sacred stone pillars” (Good News Translation). These pillars were large stones placed in a vertical position. The pagan nations used them as symbols of the male god who gave fertility to the earth, but the Israelites used them more as a memorial or marker of a special appearance of God. (See 24.4 and Gen 28.18.) New International Version has “You must … break their sacred stones to pieces.” This may also be expressed as “… smash the large stones that stand in the places where they worship their gods.”

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 .