They shall testify: this translates two Hebrew verbs, “declare and say,” giving the sense of a solemn declaration, a formal statement. They speak as representatives of the people. Translators need to find a term in their language that is similar to “solemnly declare” or “state emphatically.”

Our hands did not shed this blood: they are speaking for the people of Israel. Our hands are those of the people as a whole, not just the hands of the elders. “We did not kill [or, ‘murder,’ Good News Translation] this person,” or even “We had no part in this murder” (Contemporary English Version).

Neither did our eyes see it shed: that is, “nor did we see who committed the murder,” or “we did not witness this bloodshed” (Revised English Bible).

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 .