Translation commentary on Jeremiah 32:14

Thus says the LORD: See 2.2. Here the words are addressed to Baruch, so it is sometimes helpful to add “to you” (see Good News Translation).

The LORD of hosts: See 2.19.

Earthenware vessel: As in Good News Translation, this is “a clay jar [or, pot].”

Last for a long time is literally “stand for many days.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 33:3

As elsewhere in this book, Call to me does not mean simply to call out or shout the LORD’s name; rather, the meaning is to call upon him for help (see 29.12). If this is not clear, translators can express it directly; for example, “Call my name asking for help” or “Call to me to help you.”

Most English versions sound as if will answer and will tell are separate actions. However, it is quite possible that will tell defines the content of the LORD’s answer: “I will answer you by telling you….”

Hidden things which you have not known: Hidden is literally “inaccessible” (of a city or fortress). Isa 48.6, which is almost identical with this clause, has another Hebrew word (meaning “hidden” or “guarded”) which differs only in the first consonant. In 15.20 Revised Standard Version translates the adjective used here as “fortified.” In this verse most translators have either “hidden things” or “things you had no way of knowing.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 34:11

But afterward: Most scholars assume that the threat of danger has passed, and the siege of the city has been lifted (see verse 21).

They turned around: This is a fairly literal rendering, and though the idiom is understood in English, it would be more natural to say “they changed their minds” (Good News Translation) or “they went back on their word.” In Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch the entire verse is rendered “But soon afterwards they forced them back into slavery again.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 36:5

Ordered … saying: Here again saying becomes the Hebrew equivalent of opening quotation marks.

Debarred: Elsewhere this verb means “confined” (33.1; 39.15), but here the context suggests “no longer allowed” (Good News Translation) or “prevented” (New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 37:5

Pharaoh is Hophra (588-569 B.C.), mentioned by name in 44.30. Pharaoh is actually a title for the ruler of Egypt, and translators can say “the Pharaoh” or “the king of Egypt.” The date he brought his army out of Egypt to attack the Babylonians was probably the spring or summer of 588 B.C. The Good News Translation phrase “crossed the Egyptian border” expresses out of Egypt clearly.

The Chaldeans are the Babylonians (see 21.4).

Besieging means to surround a city and attack it (see 32.2).

They withdrew from Jerusalem ties this event to that of verses 11-15, with verses 6-10 providing the LORD’s comment on the event.

Note that Good News Translation has restructured this verse in a way that will be more natural in English, and in many other languages as well.

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 38:16

Swore translates the verb normally used when someone makes a statement or promise with an oath, using the name of God. See 4.2, where Revised Standard Version has “swear.”

As the LORD lives: See 4.2. To swear either by the life of the LORD or in the name of the LORD was the most binding oath possible.

Who made our souls is better expressed as “who gave us breath/life.” The root meaning of the Hebrew word for soul is “throat” (see 4.10, where Revised Standard Version has “life”). It is easy to move from throat as a place where breath (life) enters the human body, to the extended meaning of “breath” or “life.” In fact, in this same verse the word is translated life in the clause who seek your life.

For deliver … into the hand of, see 29.21.

Seek your life: See 4.30.

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 40:2

The captain of the guard: Although most versions retain the full title, it may be more acceptable either to identify the captain of the guard by name (“Nebuzaradan”) or else to use the pronoun “he” (so Bible en français courant) in a sentence such as “He took Jeremiah aside and said to him….”

Took is probably best understood as in Good News Translation “took aside.”

The LORD your God pronounced this evil against this place: For evil see 1.14. The reference is to the destruction that has come upon Jerusalem and Judah, which is the basis for Good News Translation “The LORD your God threatened this land with destruction” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Bible en français courant has “The Lord your God has predicted a catastrophe such as this for this city.” Another possibility is “The LORD your God declared that this evil would happen to this place.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 42:1

Commanders of the forces; that is, “army leaders” (Good News Translation) or “military leaders” (New Jerusalem Bible).

As the Revised Standard Version note indicates, Azariah is taken from the Septuagint; the Hebrew has “Jezaniah.” The decision to follow the Septuaguint is based upon the observation that in 43.2 “Azariah” is also found. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “Jezaniah,” on the assumption that a later scribe must have attempted to make 42.1 parallel with 43.2. Our recommendation is to follow the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project preference, although most versions have followed Revised Standard Version.

All the people from the least to the greatest: See 6.13.

Came near is better expressed as “came 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 .