complete verse (Jeremiah 29:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 29:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “God said to me, ‘Write a letter to Shemaiah who came from Nehelam saying,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel has given me a message for Shemaya who is from-Nehelam:” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Yahweh told me to send this message to Shemaiah, a man from Nehelam town who was living in Babylon:” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 29:24 - 29:25

Shemaiah is otherwise unknown, as is the place from which he comes.

Hebrew Old Testament Text Project points out that you shall say is more accurately rendered “you shall say as follows,” which seems to be represented by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “you shall say this.” Although “as follows” is not expressed in words in Revised Standard Version, its meaning is surely conveyed by the use of the colon to introduce direct discourse. Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch combine verses 24 and 25, and verse 24 of the Hebrew text is represented in Good News Translation by “[The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel] gave me a message for Shemaiah of Nehelam.” Translators can also say, for example, “This is what you should say to Shemaiah of Nehelam.”

You have sent letters in your name: In English to speak of sending letters in your name does not add anything beyond saying “You have written [letters].”

To all the people … to all the priests: The Septuagint has a shorter version, represented by New English Bible “You have sent a letter in your own name [Revised English Bible on your own authority] to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest.” Although the Hebrew may include elements from more than one source, and so differ from the Septuagint tradition, the principle adopted by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project is to follow the Hebrew in such cases.

The Revised Standard Version text, Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, would be understood by many readers to mean that Maaseiah was the priest. Good News Translation is probably better: “the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah.” For priest see 1.1.

At the end of this verse, Good News Translation makes it clear that what follows is what Shemaiah wrote in his letter: “In this letter Shemaiah wrote to Zephaniah.” Translators could also say “This is what the letter said.”

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 .