Verses 38-40 promise that Jerusalem will be rebuilt never again to be destroyed, and its boundaries are given.

The city refers to Jerusalem, and it is often helpful to make that clear, as in Good News Translation.

Shall be rebuilt: Translators may need to supply an agent; for example, “the people will rebuild.”

For the LORD is translated “in the LORD’s honour” by Revised English Bible, but “for me” or “as my city” (Good News Translation) are equally possible.

A tower of a city is a raised part of the protective walls. Guards could easily see approaching travelers or enemies from there. Usually there would be several towers, each placed at strategic places on the walls. In this verse translators who are unfamiliar with city walls and towers can say something such as “raised guard spot.”

The tower of Hananel was located at the northeast corner of the city (Neh 3.1; 12.39; Zech 14.10) and the Corner Gate was evidently at the northwest corner (2Kgs 14.13; 2Chr 26.9; Zech 14.10). Good News Translation makes this direction clear here with “from Hananel Tower west to the Corner Gate.” Other versions have something like “stretching [or, extending] from the Hananel Tower to the Corner Gate.” The fact that it is to the west is given in the next verse, which is why Good News Translation puts “west” here.

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 .