He will set you high above all nations: God promises that, if the people obey his commands, Israel will be the most powerful nation on earth. This promise is repeated in 28.1. Good News Translation has “He will make you greater than any other nation that he has created”; or we may say “The LORD created all nations, but he will make you greater than any of them” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

All nations that he has made: God is the Creator of all peoples, not just of Israel.

In praise and in fame and in honor: again there are three terms similar in meaning, emphasizing the high status that God will give Israel. This phrase, however, can also be understood to refer to the “praise, fame, and honor” that people will give God because of Israel’s power: “to bring him praise and fame and glory” (Revised English Bible, Revised English Bible, also Mayes). Those who favor this interpretation refer to the same expression in Jer 13.11; but no other major translation agrees with New English Bible and Revised English Bible. It is recommended that the meaning given by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation be followed. Another model may be “People will praise and honor you.”

A people holy to the LORD your God: see 7.6; 14.2, 21.

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 .