Some scholars and translators omit Hear the words of this covenant, assuming that it was introduced from verse 6. However, there is no textual basis for its omission, and most translations do include the clause. The imperative Hear is addressed to Jeremiah. He is to listen to the terms of the covenant and then repeat them to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. In some languages this verse will need to make this clear, as in “He said to Jeremiah, ‘Listen to what the covenant says, and then speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.’ ” Good News Translation expresses the words of this covenant as “the terms of the covenant.” Translators could also say “what the covenant says” or “what you are supposed to do to keep the covenant.” Covenant is first mentioned in 3.16. In some languages it will be necessary to say “the agreement I made with you” or “the covenant between us.”

In Hebrew speak is a masculine plural form of the imperative, which Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates as singular on the basis of the Septuagint and other ancient translations. Other modern translations that have distinct singular and plural forms prefer to use the singular without comment (La Bible Pléiade, Luther 1984, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

The LORD tells Jeremiah to address the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. All the people of Judah are in view here, not just the males. At the same time it should be clear that those living in Jerusalem are also people of Judah. An alternative for this phrase is “the citizens of Jerusalem and the other people of Judah.”

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 .