I will set shepherds over them who will care for them: As in verse 2, shepherds and will care for come from the same Hebrew root. The idea is that the rulers of the nation will be as concerned for the needs of the people as shepherds are for their sheep. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “And I will give them shepherds, who will really care for them.”

They shall fear no more refers to the people, not the rulers, as Good News Translation makes clear: “My people will no longer be afraid.”

Dismayed translates the verb first used in 1.17.

Neither shall any be missing: For the play on words, see verse 2. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “Not one single sheep will be lost.” The expression may also be taken to mean “I will not punish them again” (see the Good News Translation note). However, most versions follow the Revised Standard Version and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch interpretation.

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 .