Vineyards: See 2.21. Here translators who are working in languages where vines and grapes are unknown can use a sentence such as “you will plant the vine [or, plant] for the fruit for making wine” or “you will grow fruit [for making wine].”

Upon the mountains may have to be expressed as “on the sides of the mountains [or, hills].”

The planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit: Shall enjoy the fruit translates a Hebrew verb that more literally means “put [something] to ordinary usage.” In this context the reference would be that of using fruit from trees whose earlier fruit was considered dedicated to the LORD (see Lev 19.23-25; Deut 20.6). The statement does suggest a long period of peace, which is the basis for New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “men shall plant and live to enjoy them.” Only New English Bible is different with “vineyards which those who planted them defiled”; but Revised English Bible has reverted to the more normal interpretation, “those who plant them will enjoy the fruit.” New Jerusalem Bible is a good model: “those who plant will themselves enjoy the fruit.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates verse 5 as:

• Plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria! Have no fears that enemies will enjoy the fruit!

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 .