Their detestable things: that is, their idols. The pronoun their very likely refers back to both Egypt and the nations in verse 16, so it is possible to combine the two verses as Contemporary English Version does (and see also the alternative model below). The Hebrew word translated detestable carries a sense of thoroughly disgusting, completely revolting. New Revised Standard Version has “their … detestable things, the filthy idols,” somewhat like Good News Translation “their disgusting idols.”

Idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold: see a similar statement in 4.28. For a comment on idols see 4.16.

Which were among them: this will be repetitive in many languages and may be deleted, as Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have done.

An alternative translation model combining verses 16 and 17 is the following:

• You know that when we lived in Egypt, you saw the Egyptians worship disgusting idols made of wood, stone, silver and gold. Then as you traveled through the lands of other nations, you saw those people worship other disgusting idols.

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 .