There shall not be found among you: this is a way of saying that what follows is prohibited, that no Israelite is to do any of these things. See the similar warning in 12.30-31. Alternative translation models for There shall not be found … may be “Don’t…” or “You must not….”

One who burns his son or daughter as an offering: the meaning here is that the person offers his child as a sacrifice to a pagan god. The Revised Standard Version footnote gives the literal form of the Hebrew text, which some understand to mean a method of divination, of predicting the future. But this is highly doubtful, and it is recommended that the idea of sacrifice by fire be expressed. Good News Translation “Don’t sacrifice your children in the fire on your altars” is a good model.

There are four more forbidden practices in this verse, and an additional four in verse 11. Some of them seem to refer to the same thing, and today we do not know the precise distinction between the various terms—if such ever existed. Most of them have to do with the various means of predicting future events, and certain kinds of magic or witchcraft.

As usual the Handbook will cite Revised Standard Version terms and note different terms used in other translations. In this verse New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible are exactly the same as Revised Standard Version. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible have “augur, soothsayer, diviner, sorcerer.”

Practice divination: this involves the use of supernatural powers to reveal the future.

Soothsayer: the verb means to foretell future events, to predict the future, whether or not by use of magic or spiritual powers.

Augur: this involves interpreting various signs and omens, such as the pattern of birds in flight, the disposition of sticks or arrows flung on the ground, or the examination of an animal’s entrails. New International Version translates “interprets omens.”

Sorcery: to gain control over someone through the help of spirits. New International Version has “engages in witchcraft.”

Some cultures may have all these practices, and translators can find precise terms to match the Hebrew. However, in other languages translators may need to follow Good News Translation and use three different terms, and not four, on the assumption that the Hebrew terms are so closely related that precise distinctions between the various activities are not possible.

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 .