Good News Translation places together verses 19-26 in a list form, without indicating the verses in which each member of the list occurs. Bible en français courant follows essentially the same procedure, with the exception that the verse numbers are maintained throughout.

[19]

Since Pharaoh is a title (equivalent to “king”) and not a name, Pharaoh king of Egypt may be rendered “the king of Egypt” (Good News Translation).

His servants, his princes: Both terms refer to high officials of the king (Good News Translation, “his officials and leaders”). See 21.7; 24.1.

[20]

Uz is a territory in the desert region east of Judah.

Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, … Ashdod, and Gath (not listed) were the main cities of the Philistines, who occupied the Mediterranean coast to the west of Judah.

[21]

Edom, Moab, and … Ammon: See 9.26.

[22]

Tyre … Sidon are Phoenician coastal cities; Tyre was actually a small island, originally not connected to the mainland.

The coastland across the sea probably refers to the various territories occupied or controlled by the Phoenicians. Translators can say something like “areas all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea” or “the coastal areas on this side of the Mediterranean Sea and beyond it.” Good News Translation puts all these regions together as “Mediterranean lands.”

[23]

Dedan and Tema are in northwest Arabia; Buz was perhaps in the same area. As Good News Translation makes clear, they were cities.

The expression cut the corners of their hair, translated “cut their hair short” by Good News Translation, was discussed at 9.26.

[24]

And all the kings of the mixed tribes: In Hebrew this construction is similar to “all the kings of Arabia,” and is regarded by many scholars as a later addition to the text. However, according to the principles adopted by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, it should be retained and translated. Good News Translation expresses the mixed tribes that dwell in the desert simply as “the desert tribes,” which is also what is done in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. To retain the expression in full, translators can say “all the kings of the various tribes [or, groups] who live in the desert.”

[25]

The site of Zimri is unknown.

Elam is a territory east of Babylonia; its capital was Susa.

Media is a territory to the north and east of Babylonia; its capital was Ecbatana.

[26]

The kings of the north: See 1.13-15.

The phrases far and near, one after another in Revised Standard Version are grammatically part of the same sentence as the list of those who have to drink the cup. But in many languages it makes more sense for translators to end one sentence after all the kings of the north, and then begin a new one by combining these phrases with and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth: “Every nation on the face of the earth, those far and those near, one after another, they had to drink from the cup.” Note that all the kingdoms of the world … is a summary statement, which has been reduced considerably in the above rendering (compare Good News Translation).

After them is translated “Last of all” by Good News Translation.

The tense of the verb for all the nations on earth drinking of the cup was in the past, “made … drink it,” in verse 17. But it now switches to the future, the king of Babylon shall drink.

Babylon: Hebrew has “Sheshach” (see 51.41; compare also 51.1), a way of writing “Babylonia” in code (see the Revised Standard Version note).

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 .