Holy to the LORD is a parallel expression to the first fruits of his harvest. The root meaning of the word holy is “set apart” (Moffatt). Thus Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates holy to the LORD as “reserved for the LORD.” Both Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Good News Translation use direct speech for the LORD’s words in verses 2-3, and so translate “you belonged to me alone.”
In fact we see in this verse something that happens a great deal in the prophetic writings, and that is where within the same utterance of the LORD he will switch from addressing Israel as “you” to speaking of them as “they” or “he.”
The first fruits of his harvest is a literal translation of a technical term used in ancient Israel. The reference is to the first portion taken from the crops (this was considered the best). By presenting this part of the harvest to the LORD, the ancient Israelites acknowledged that in reality it all belonged to him. After making this presentation to the LORD, they were then allowed to use the remainder for their own benefit. If first fruits is rendered literally, it will probably require a footnote. Of course, first fruits is often rendered as “first part of the harvest” or “first crops [harvested].” Otherwise, it is possible to translate more meaningfully, in the tradition of Good News Translation: “you were my sacred possession.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the first sentence of this verse as “At that time you belonged to me alone, as the first fruit of the harvest.”
All who ate of it became guilty continues the imagery of the first fruits of his harvest. In the same way that an Israelite who ate this sacred portion of the harvest was considered guilty and deserving punishment, so God himself punished those people who ate (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “laid hands on”) the people who belonged to him. Whether translators decide to retain the image of eating or use an expression such as “touched” (Bible en français courant) or “laid hands on” will depend partially on what they did with first fruits. What is important is that readers recognize that the LORD is speaking of anyone harming Israel, who belongs to him alone.
Evil came upon them is an impersonal way of describing God’s action of punishing Israel’s enemies. New Revised Standard Version has “disaster came upon them.” Good News Translation reverses the order of the clauses in All who … upon them and translates with the LORD as subject: “I sent suffering and disaster on everyone who hurt you.”
Says the LORD: See the comment at 1.8.
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 .