Bastard: in English this means someone born of parents not legally married to each other. Good News Translation has “No one born out of wedlock,” and Contemporary English Version has “no one born outside of a legal marriage.” The Hebrew word appears only here and in Zech 9.6, and its precise meaning is disputed. Here it can refer to a man born of an incestuous union (see Lev 18.6-18), or even a Jewish male whose mother was a Gentile (see Neh 13.23-25). Translators are advised to follow the interpretation taken by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version.

Shall enter the assembly of the LORD: see verse 1.

Even to the tenth generation: this probably means “forever” (see “for ever” at the end of the next verse). It is not certain that a man belonging to the eleventh generation would be admitted.

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 .