Throughout this passage there is a play on the word burden, which may also mean “message” (see Good News Translation). The wordplay continues into verse 39, where the verb “lift … up” comes from the same root. The LORD’s message had become a burden to the false prophets and the people, and so he will punish whoever uses the word (verse 34).

In verse 33 Revised English Bible handles the first two occurrences of the word burden as follows: “When you are asked by this people or by a prophet or priest what the burden of the LORD’s message is, you shall answer, You are his burden….” This is similar to Moffatt, where burden in its first occurrence is rendered “the burden of the Eternal’s oracle.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “If a prophet or a priest or one of the people asks you, ‘What has the Lord laid on us now?’ then you answer them, ‘You are the burden which is laid on me!’ says the Lord.” A footnote accompanies the text, explaining the wordplay and indicating that Jeremiah most probably looked upon his message of judgment as a burden. It is worth noting that in these examples the burden of the LORD is understood as “the burden the LORD has given us to bear.”

If translators choose to use “message” to render burden in this first occurrence, then they will need to include a footnote about the play on words. If they accept “burden” in the translation, that is not as necessary.

For prophet see 1.5.

For priest see 1.1.

Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint and Vulgate in the rendering You are the burden. The Hebrew text says “What burden?” However, the rendering of Revised Standard Version may be arrived at by a simple redivision of the Hebrew letters, and so a footnote is not really required. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends the text followed by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

I will cast you off: The verb rendered cast … off is the same verb rendered “cast … away” in verse 39. It also appears in 7.29 (Revised Standard Version “forsaken”); 12.7 (Revised Standard Version “abandoned”); 15.6 (Revised Standard Version “rejected”). Here it can be rendered “throw you off” or “get rid of you.”

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 .