There are five verbs in this verse to emphasize the need to reject any such inducement to idol worship.

Yield to him: that is, agree to do what he wants.

Listen to him: pay attention to what he says.

Your eye pity him: show no mercy, be pitiless (see also 7.16). In many languages there will be suitable figurative expressions; for example, “Do not have warm insides towards him” or “Don’t let your heart [or, liver] feel towards him.”

Spare him: this means the same as the previous verb; the two can be combined: “show him no pity or mercy.”

Conceal: this means to cover up what was done, not to tell others about it. New Jerusalem Bible renders it “conceal his guilt.” It does not mean to physically hide the person, but to keep secret what he has done. This is wrong; that person’s evil deed must be exposed and punished.

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 .