But where are your gods that you made for yourself? refers back to the objects of wood and stone mentioned in verse 27. For gods see the discussion at 1.16. This question is rhetorical, the meaning of which is not to seek information but to emphasize that these gods are helpless and will not be able to help the people. In most languages this sense is clear from the question, but in others translators may have to say something like “But those gods you made for yourself, they are nowhere to be found!”

Arise is once again used in the sense of 1.17. Let them arise, if they can save you is expressed in Good News Translation by “let them save you if they can!” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Let them come and see if they can save you!” Notice that Good News Translation found lines 3-4 could be expressed more naturally in English by restructuring: “When you are in trouble, let them save you—if they can!”

For as many as your cities are your gods is the prophet’s way of reminding the people of the numerous gods that they have substituted for the one LORD. Good News Translation translates “you have as many gods as you have cities.” New Revised Standard Version has likewise reversed the order: “for you have as many gods as you have towns.” The Septuagint adds “and they offer as many sacrifices to Baal as there are streets in the city of Jerusalem.” Most translations prefer to follow the Hebrew, though Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible include this additional statement, with only New Jerusalem Bible providing a textual note for its readers.

The verse ends with a vocative (direct address by name), O Judah. In many languages it will be necessary to have this at the beginning of the sentence, or at least near the beginning; for example, “Judah, you have as many gods as you have cities” or “For you, Judah, have as many gods….” In this passage Judah is used interchangeably with “Israel.”

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 .