Horror is used again in 24.9; 29.18; 34.17. Elsewhere in the Old Testament the word is found only in Isa 28.19 (Revised Standard Version “terror”), though with slightly different vowels. The basic meaning of the word is “trembling” or “fright.”

Make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth is rendered “make all the people of the world horrified at them” by Good News Translation. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “All the people of the earth will be horrified when they see it.” It is also possible to say “be terrified.” Revised English Bible and New International Version have “make them abhorrent…,” which could be expressed as “make all the people abhor [or, hate] them.” This interpretation seems less likely.

Because of … in Jerusalem is rendered as a separate statement in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “It is the punishment for what King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, did in Jerusalem!”

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 .