The sons of Judah are clearly “The people of Judah” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Have done evil is a summary statement for the sins of which the people are guilty: defilement of the LORD’s temple (7.30), human sacrifice (7.31), and worship of the sun, moon, and stars (8.2). To make this clear, some translators have “For the people of Judah have done these evil things: they have placed their idols … and they have built….” Evil in my sight does not mean “evil where I can see it,” but “what I consider evil.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “what displeases me,” while Good News Translation has simply “evil thing.”

Abominations … defile: See the comment at 2.7. Abominations is the same word used in 4.1. In the present context idols are meant (Jerusalem Bible footnote), and in some translations this is made clear: “detestable cult objects” (Bright), “detestable idols” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New International Version), “loathsome idols” (Revised English Bible), and “idols, which I hate” (Good News Translation).

The house which is called by my name: See the comment at verse 10.

The second part of this verse can be restructured to say “They have defiled [or, made impure] the house for my worship by setting up idols there which are offensive to me.”

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 .