The word Only has the idea of “All you have to do,” “The only thing you have to do,” or “But you must.” “Simply” would also convey the meaning in English.

Acknowledge is literally “know” (see 1.5); it is here used in the sense of “admit” (Good News Translation) or “recognize and confess.”

The noun translated guilt may be used of any deed that is wrong, whether done intentionally or unintentionally. It then comes to mean “sin” or “guilt” or “punishment [for sin]”. The word is used more than twenty times in the book of Jeremiah; its first occurrence is in 2.22 (see there). Many translations render this as a verb in a sentence such as “But you must admit you have done wrong [or, sinned].”

Rebelled translates the same Hebrew verb rendered “transgressed” in 2.8 (see there). In the Hebrew sentence against the LORD your God is placed in the emphatic position: “it is against the LORD your God that you have rebelled.”

For a discussion of the LORD your God, see 2.17.

Scattered your favors is more literally “scattered your ways.” Since strangers (see 2.25) refers to foreign gods, we may translate: “you have given your love to foreign gods” (Good News Translation). Another way to express the meaning would be “You have been willing [or, happy] to make love with [or, give your love to] strangers [or, foreign gods].” In Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch that you rebelled … among strangers is translated: “You have been unfaithful to me and have chased after foreign gods.”

Under every green tree: See 2.20.

Obeyed my voice may be rendered “obeyed my commands” (Good News Translation) or “obeyed me” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

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 .