Jerahmeel the king’s son: This phrase probably means that Jerahmeel was simply one of the royal family, rather than the actual son of Jehoiakim, who himself was only 30 years old at this time (see 2Kgs 23.36). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “prince of royal blood,” with a note indicating that he was most probably not Jehoiakim’s literal son. Revised English Bible has “a royal prince,” while Jerusalem Bible and Good News Translation have “Prince Jerahmeel.” Jerahmeel, Seraiah, and Shelemiah are otherwise unknown.

As Good News Translation shows, seize means “arrest.”

Here secretary does not mean an official as in verse 10, but he is someone who writes on behalf of another. It has the same meaning as “scribe” in verse 32.

The prophet: Under the assumption that too much repetition is of negative value for English readers, here Good News Translation does not identify Jeremiah again by this title.

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 .