This sets the procedure to be followed if the dead man’s brother tells the town’s elders that he will not perform his duty.

In the presence of the elders: or “while the town leaders watch” (Contemporary English Version).

Pull his sandal off his foot: the symbolic meaning of this act is not clear. If we need to say which foot, we can say “his right foot.” See the procedure described in Ruth 4.7-9. The Hebrew sandal refers to footwear tied with straps.

Spit in his face: this, of course, is a highly insulting act.

Shall answer: this is a formal statement. In English it may be expressed as “shall declare” or “shall state.”

So shall it be done: this does not refer to some future happening; it is the public humiliating insult which has just been inflicted on the man. Other ways of expressing this are “This is what happens” (Good News Translation) or “That’s what happens” (Contemporary English Version).

The man who does not build up his brother’s house: here house means “family,” and the meaning is that, by refusing to produce a son for his brother, the man is allowing the brother’s family name to disappear. Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version are good models for translation.

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 .