Am I a God at hand … and not a God afar off?: The meaning of this verse is that the LORD is not a local deity, limited to his place of worship; he lives in heaven, where he can see everything. Consequently no one can hide from him (see verse 24).

In order to express this meaning, Good News Translation uses a strong statement in place of the rhetorical question: “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only.” This also reverses the order of the two clauses involved. Bible en français courant uses a question with its answer: “Am I a God who is nearsighted? asked the Lord. No, I am a God who sees at a distance.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “The Lord says: ‘I am not a nearby God that you can control, but I am the distant God who controls you.’ ” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates quite literally, but then gives a meaningful rendering in its note: “Am I a local deity or a God of the universe?”

In some languages to speak of being a God everywhere may not be understood by readers to mean that God has authority and power over the people wherever they are, anywhere in the universe. So translators can express this idea as “I God have authority and power over you equally when you are far away and when you are here” or “I am your God with power and authority [over you] whether you are nearby or far away.”

For says the LORD, see 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 .