In verses 7-9 Moses commands the people to be generous toward their needy fellow-Israelites, and always be willing to help them. Wherever possible, exclusive language such as poor man or one of your brethren should be avoided. One way of doing this is to use plural forms, which generally include both males and females, or express this as “fellow Israelites” (Good News Translation), or “poor Israelites” (Contemporary English Version), or else “poor person.”

A poor man, one of your brethren: that is, “a poor fellow-Israelite,” “fellow-Israelites who are poor [or, in need].” For poor see verse 4.

In any of your towns within your land: this is a rather wordy way of saying “in any town in your country” or even “in the town where you live” (Contemporary English Version).

You shall not harden your heart or shut your hand: these are two vivid idioms for lack of compassion and for stinginess. In English “hardhearted and tightfisted” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version) match the Hebrew idioms. Other languages will have their own vivid idioms to express this; for example, “black-hearted” (Thai).

Your poor brother: “your needy fellow-Israelite” or “another Israelite, who has few possessions.”

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 .