The use of the two words Therefore, behold in Hebrew indicates a conclusion drawn upon the basis of what comes immediately before: “So, therefore.”

The days are coming is similar in meaning to “in those days” of 3.16, 18. Some translators have “the time will come.”

For says the LORD, see 1.8.

When it will no more be called Topheth … Hinnom may require the shift to an active construction: “when people will no longer call it Topheth or Hinnom Valley.”

The valley of Slaughter (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “Death Valley”) is expanded by what follows in verses 32-33. Slaughter means to kill violently, so translators can have “Valley of Violent Killing [or, Violent Death]” or “Valley of Murder.”

They will bury may be better translated as “people will bury their dead.” Proper burial of the dead was particularly important among the ancient Israelites, though places of burial were considered unclean. Thus if the dead are buried in Hinnom Valley, it can no longer be considered a satisfactory place for sacrifice and worship. Some scholars understand the clause, because there is no room elsewhere, to mean “till there is no room left” (Bright), though the interpretation represented by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is the more widely accepted one.

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 .