Cursed be the man: or “God will punish the person.” See also the comment on “curse” at 11.26.

A graven or molten image: see 4.16 and 9.12, 16; also 5.8; Exo 20.4. New International Version “carves an image or casts an idol” better represents the meaning than Revised Standard Version; Good News Translation also makes it quite clear: “makes an idol of stone, wood, or metal.” We may also say “makes a likeness of a false god out of stone, ….”

An abomination to the LORD: Good News Translation has “The LORD hates idolatry,” and Contemporary English Version has “The LORD is disgusted with idols.” See also 7.25.

Made by the hands of a craftsman: unless the language requires it, “the hands of” can be dispensed with in translation, since the maker (the man, or “anyone”) has been mentioned in the first sentence (see Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Sets it up in secret: this does not mean that God’s curse will not apply if this is done in public. It is simply a way of stating the obvious: very few Israelites would worship idols publicly. Good News Translation “worships” emphasizes the reason why an Israelite would make an idol, and is a legitimate translation of the text.

All the people: this means the people of all twelve tribes, not only the six tribes on Mount Ebal.

Amen: a way of affirming the truth of the statement. Its sense is “So be it,” “It is so,” or “We agree!”

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 .