Hear the word of the LORD is an introductory formula (parallel to “Thus says the LORD” of 2.2); its function is to direct attention to the message of the LORD which follows. Good News Translation translates “Listen to the LORD’s message.”

House of Jacob is a typical Jewish way of referring to the “descendants of Jacob” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Revised English Bible has “people of Jacob” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “community of Jacob.” Luther 1984 retains “house” but in a more contemporary construction: “You of the house of Jacob.” But if translators use one of these last three models, they should be sure that readers will not mistakenly believe that Jacob was still alive at that time.

All the families of the house of Israel is parallel in meaning to house of Jacob. The major translations apparently prefer to retain both expressions, though for some languages it may be appropriate to use only one of them. Jacob and Israel are, of course, one and the same individual, the son of Isaac and Rebecca. For the account of how Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, see Gen 32.22-32. Note also Gen 49.2, where the names Jacob and Israel are used interchangeably in the giving of the patriarchal blessing.

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 .