The word translated Though in this verse means “Even if,” as in Good News Translation.

Moses (see Exo 32.11-14, 31-34; Num 14.13-25) and Samuel (1Sam 7.5-11; 12.19; Psa 99.6) were recognized as persons having special powers to pray to God on behalf of the people.

Stood before me has the more precise meaning of “standing before me and pleading with me” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). We may even need to say “pleading with me on behalf of these people.” To “stand before” is used elsewhere of speaking or praying to God on behalf of others (18.20; Gen 18.22; 19.27).

Heart is literally “soul,” which is used once again as the equivalent of a personal pronoun. “My soul” is the equivalent of “I” in such contexts (see 13.17).

As is clear in Good News Translation, to say my heart would not turn toward means “I would not show compassion toward” or “I would not take pity on.”

Send them out of my sight is probably not referring to Moses and Samuel, but to the people. It may be translated “Send them away from where I can see them” or “Get them away from here!”

Let them go may be more emphatically expressed as “Make them go away” (Good News Translation). New American Bible translates the last two clauses (Send … go) as one: “Send them away from me.”

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 .