You who held fast to: the verb means “to be loyal,” “to be faithful.” New Revised Standard Version translates “who remained faithful to.”

Are all alive this day: the lesson is clear. If the Israelites remain faithful to Yahweh, they will indeed live; if they reject Yahweh, they will die as did the 24,000 at Mount Peor.

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 .