This law is categorical (apodictic) and uses the participial form. Literally the text says “A [female] practicer of sorcery you [singular] shall not keep alive.” Revised English Bible calls her “a witch,” but Good News Translation has “any woman who practices magic.” The word refers to one who performs supernatural deeds or discovers hidden knowledge by calling on the power of evil spirits. The implication is that, once a woman is discovered to have this ability, she is to be killed. Other ways to say this are “a woman who practices black magic against others” or “a woman who causes [or, calls down] curses to come upon people.” Some receptor languages will have very specific terms for such women; for example, “women who mutter curses,” and so on.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .