The horror you inspire: The precise meaning of this clause is uncertain. It may be taken to mean “the horrible things you have done.” New Jerusalem Bible renders “Your reputation for ferocity,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Your horrible nature.” On the other hand, for the first line there are renderings like New American Bible “The terror you spread beguiled you” and Good News Translation “No one fears you as much as you think they do.” One scholar suggests that the meaning might be “horrible idol,” a contemptuous reference to Edom’s god. And since this feminine noun is followed by a masculine verb, the same scholar also wonders if the name of the god may not have originally stood here. This speculation is not normally translated, however. What most translators will say for the first two lines is something such as “The pride you feel because you inspire fear in others has deceived you” or “You are very proud because you think everyone is afraid of you. You are deceived.”
Although Revised Standard Version provides a note following in the clefts of the rock, this is hardly necessary. All translations assume this interpretation, and Good News Translation renders “on the rocky cliffs.” The reference is clearly to the rocky heights where the people of Edom lived and which gave them a feeling of security.
Who hold the height of the hill continues the same thought: “[you live] high on top of the mountain” (Good News Translation).
Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s: Eagles are known for building their nests in places that are difficult or impossible for their enemies to reach. Good News Translation gives just the sense of the figure of the nest: “but even though you live as high up as an eagle.” For eagle see 4.13. If eagles are unknown, translators can have “great bird of prey.”
Says the LORD: See 1.8.
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 .