Showing steadfast love: the Hebrew verb translated showing is literally “doing,” better translated “acting with….” This is the first occurrence in this book of the noun chesed, which appears frequently in the Hebrew Scriptures. When used of God it refers to God’s covenant love, God’s faithfulness in keeping his promise to the people of Israel, to be their God and to bless them. It is variously translated: New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “kindness,” which does not seem adequate; something like “love” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), “faithful [or, loyal] love,” or “unchanging love” is better. Revised English Bible has “I keep faith with.” See 7.9, 12. For a comment on love see 4.37.

To thousands: it is better to follow Good News Translation “to thousands of generations,” or New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “to the thousandth generation” (also Bible en français courant, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). See 7.9.

Who love me and keep my commandments: see 4.2.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .