In place of Send word (Good News Translation “send a message”), the Hebrew Masoretic Text has “send them” (see the notes in Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). According to this form of the text, “them” would refer to the “yoke-bars” of verse 2. New American Bible and Revised English Bible have simply “Send,” though Revised English Bible does indicate in a footnote that the Hebrew adds “them.” Neither Moffatt (“send a message”) or New International Version (“send word”) note the textual problem. In Hebrew “them” is only one letter (a suffix on the verb Send), and it is quite possible that it was carried over from verse 2. The context suggests that Jeremiah made only one yoke, which he wore symbolically. On the other hand, the plural “them” may indicate that he made one for each of the five kings. Send word is most logical in this context, and we therefore recommend that translators follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation in this, including a footnote on the Hebrew.

The king of Edom … Moab … Ammon … Tyre … Sidon: For these places refer to 25.19-26. The sons of Ammon is merely a way of saying “the people of Ammon.” Whether to repeat king or group all the kings together as Good News Translation has (“kings of Edom, Moab…”) will depend on what is more natural in the translator’s language.

By the hand of means “through” or “by means of.”

Envoys or “ambassadors” (Good News Translation) are representatives sent by one king or nation to another. “Messengers” is therefore too general as a translation. “Spokesmen” or “representatives” would be better in English.

It may help readers if the sentence is restructured like this:

• The ambassadors of the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon are in Jerusalem to see Zedekiah, king of Judah. Tell them to give their kings this message [or, Tell them, “Here is a message for your kings”].

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 .