There is a note of irony in this verse. The fact that there is constant swearing in the LORD’s name in the city should indicate that he is held in great respect, or at least that there is a lot of honesty and sincerity everywhere. Instead, this verse says that the swearing is false and dishonest.

As indicated in the introduction to this section, it is uncertain whether the LORD or Jeremiah is the speaker. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch continues the LORD’s words through this verse.

Revised English Bible translates they as “People.”

As the LORD lives: See 4.2. Good News Translation (“Even though you claim to worship the LORD”), Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (“But if everyone in Jerusalem swore by my name”), and Revised English Bible (“People may swear by the life of the LORD”) shift to indirect discourse and attempt to interpret the content of the oath. Others retain the direct discourse, but it may then be helpful to indicate that saying “As the LORD lives” is in fact taking an oath. An example is “Although people swear by saying ‘As the LORD lives.’ ”

Swear falsely is literally “swear falsehood.” “Falsehood” is the exact opposite of “truth” in the previous verse. This line is taken by Good News Translation to mean “you do not mean what you say” and by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch to mean “then it is an act of perjury.” New English Bible has “but they only perjure themselves.”

Note that Good News Translation refers to “worship” instead of swearing in this verse, so Contemporary English Version is a better model for the whole verse with “Everyone breaks promises made in my name.”

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 .