Swore translates the verb normally used when someone makes a statement or promise with an oath, using the name of God. See 4.2, where Revised Standard Version has “swear.”

As the LORD lives: See 4.2. To swear either by the life of the LORD or in the name of the LORD was the most binding oath possible.

Who made our souls is better expressed as “who gave us breath/life.” The root meaning of the Hebrew word for soul is “throat” (see 4.10, where Revised Standard Version has “life”). It is easy to move from throat as a place where breath (life) enters the human body, to the extended meaning of “breath” or “life.” In fact, in this same verse the word is translated life in the clause who seek your life.

For deliver … into the hand of, see 29.21.

Seek your life: See 4.30.

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 .