You shall not kill: this does not include all killings (of people), such as killing in war or the execution of criminals. It is more narrowly restricted to murder, that is, the deliberate killing of a fellow human being. In English, at least, the proper translation is “You shall not murder” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, Revised English Bible). This also is the proper translation of the citation of this commandment in the New Testament (Matt 5.21; 19.18; Mark 10.29; Luke 18.20; Rom 13.9; James 2.11). In languages where the various terms for killing are not clearly defined, it may be better to use the more general word for kill and say something like “kill from anger” or “kill deliberately.” Translators should find a term that excludes killing accidentally; it should be a term that means killing that society regards as wrong.

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 .