The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: See 1.4. There is a problem at the beginning of this verse, in as much as it introduces a saying from the LORD, but none follows. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch supplies a footnote to this effect, while Good News Translation and Bible en français courant simply make the first part of the verse (ending with Ramah) into a complete sentence.

Nebuzaradan: See 39.9.

The captain of the guard: Good News Translation has “the commanding officer.” See 39.9.

Ramah: See 31.15.

When he took him bound in chains: The release of Jeremiah came after he had been taken in chains to Ramah. The word chains here is not the same as the Hebrew word translated “fetters” in 39.7, but the meaning is essentially the same.

Who were being exiled: Not all readers will be familiar with the concept exiled, and translators can use something such as “taken as prisoners” (so Good News Translation). Refer to “captivity” in 1.3.

In some languages, restructuring of the verse is necessary; for example:

• Jeremiah was bound with chains and taken to Ramah, along with all the other people from Jerusalem and Judah that the Babylonians were taking as prisoners to Babylon. There Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, released him. Then the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.

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 .