complete verse (Jeremiah 9:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 9:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Instead of following, they did what their stomachs wanted in rebellion, and they even went to worship Baal as their forefathers had taught them.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Instead, they followed the hardness of their heart. They worshipped the images of Baal as-what their ancestors have-taught them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Instead, they have stubbornly done the things that they wanted to do.
    They have worshiped the idols that represent the god Baal,
    which is what their ancestors did.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 9:14

Stubbornly followed their own hearts: See the comment at 3.17.

Have gone after the Baals: See 2.8, 23. Note that here Good News Translation renders the plural form as “idols of Baal.” Another possibility is “the gods [called] Baal.”

Fathers is more accurately “ancestors” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

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 .