In the text this verse continues the sentence begun in verse 26; that is, the people of Israel who will be disgraced are a nation that prays to trees and stones. Good News Translation begins a new sentence, but repeats “You will all be disgraced” to be more natural. It is equally possible to begin the sentence “You say to an idol of wood…” (so Bible en français courant).
The tree and stone symbolize the fertility gods and goddesses worshiped by the Israelites. It is generally assumed that the tree is actually a reference to a sacred wooden pole or column set up at the place of worship. Moreover, it is also thought that the tree (or “wooden pole”) represented the female deity, whereas the stone represented the male deity. If this is the case, then the prophet’s identification of the tree as male (You are my father) and of the stone as female (You gave me birth) may be interpreted as a sarcastic remark. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates: “… but you say to the sacred poles: ‘You are my father’; to stone columns: ‘You are the mother, who gave me birth.’ ”
Of course, many languages will require that this be in indirect discourse, as in Good News Translation, or “You call a tree your father and pronounce to a stone that it is the mother who gave you birth.”
The transition For is dropped as unnecessary in some translations; others have rendered it with “but” to show that there is a contrast between how the people treat the gods of wood and stone on the one hand and the LORD on the other.
They have turned their back to me, and not their face is repeated in 32.33. The use of this double imagery emphasizes the people’s absolute rejection of the LORD: “You have turned completely away from me” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Good News Translation retains the double action with “you turned away from me instead of turning to me.”
Arise and save us is addressed to the LORD: “Lord, come and save us!” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Good News Translation resolves the problem of the person addressed by the use of indirect discourse: “But when you are in trouble, you ask me to come and save you.” The verb Arise is used here in the same sense that it is in 1.17. In this verse it is naturally expressed as “Come.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .