These deceptive words refers to the expression that follows, that is, This is the temple …. It is not that the words themselves are deceptive, but that the people are deceiving themselves by misplacing their trust in them. New International Version has “Do not trust in deceptive words and say.” Revised English Bible is very clear: “You keep saying, ‘This place is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!’ This slogan of yours is a lie; put no trust in it.”

The temple of the LORD was a sign of the LORD’s presence among his people. That the phrase is repeated three times probably reflects its use in the temple liturgy of Jeremiah’s day. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch completely drops the word temple and substitutes a meaningful equivalent: “Do not believe that it will help you to go on repeating the words: God lives here, God lives here, God really lives here!”

In Hebrew This translates a plural form, thus including all the buildings that comprise the temple complex.

When translators look for a way to translate temple, they need to consider as well the New Testament words “synagogue” and “church” (in its modern usage when it refers to a building) to be sure the three terms do not overlap too much. “Synagogue” is often translated as “a meeting house” or “a prayer house,” and temple as “house of God.” If this term coincides with the term people use for a church building, then in order to keep temple distinct, translators sometimes say “House of God of the Jews” or “Jewish House of God.” Another way is to emphasize the temple’s function as the place where sacrifices were offered. This is done with a phrase such as “House of Sacrifice,” “Jewish House of Sacrifice,” or “House of Sacrifice to God.” However, since temple refers to a complex of buildings, “place” is sometimes better than “house” or “building.”

In this verse the full expression is the temple of the LORD. Translators who normally render temple with “House of God” can say in this case “House of the LORD.” Those who use “Place of sacrifice” can say “Place of sacrifice to the LORD.” (But Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch‘s use of a meaningful equivalent, as cited above, has much to commend it in this verse.)

Good News Translation regularly uses a capital for the first letter of “Temple” when it refers to the temple in Jerusalem. Translators should do whatever is appropriate for their readers.

It is also worth noting that many translators find that an excellent way to show the relationship between “priest” and temple is to translate the one as “sacrificer” and the other as “place of sacrifice.” See 1.1.

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 .