Thus says the LORD: See 2.2. Both Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch place this clause at the end of the verse for effect: “I, the LORD, have spoken” (Good News Translation) and “I, the Lord, say it” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Write this man down as childless: Elsewhere in the Old Testament the adjective childless is found only in Gen 15.2; Lev 20.20, 21, where it seems to carry this same meaning. However, because Jehoiachin was not childless (he had seven sons according to 1Chr 3.17), Revised English Bible renders “stripped of all honour.” But, as one scholar points out, “The figure is that of a census list,” from which he may be written down as “childless,” because none of his sons succeeded him on the throne. Thus Good News Translation translates “This man is condemned to lose his children.” New International Version is a good model here: “Record this man as if childless.”

Who shall not succeed in his days means “who will never succeed” (Good News Translation) or “he will not succeed in his lifetime.”

As indicated above, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David, and ruling again in Judah interprets the meaning of “childless.” Translators can say “for none of his children will ever be king in Judah as successor to King David.” His offspring is literally “his seed” (see “his children” in verse 28). For sitting on the throne of David, see 13.13.

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 .