This verse describes the practice of covering idols with silver and gold (see verse 4) and dressing them in expensive garments. Although Tarshish is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament, its precise identity is not known. A number of scholars favor identifying it with the city of Tartessus in southern Spain or with the island of Sardinia. Translators are probably safest if they simply render it as “the city of Tarshish.” The location of Uphaz (elsewhere mentioned only in Dan 10.5) is not known. Some ancient translations substitute the better known “Ophir” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible), but this is without support in Hebrew manuscripts, and possibly represents an attempt to substitute a known place for an unknown one. Translators should say something like “city [or, region] of Uphaz.”

They (Good News Translation “Their idols”) refers back to “idols” of verse 8. It is important to make this identification in translation, so as not to confuse who the two “They” pronouns in verses 8 and 9 refer to; for example, translators can begin the verse “These idols are made by skilled workers.”

Craftsman, though used of metal workers in Gen 4.22 (referring to “instruments” in Revised Standard Version) and 1Kgs 7.14 (“worker” in Revised Standard Version), may also be used in a broader sense of any type of craftsman.

Violet and purple cloth was expensive. Some languages do not have words for these colors and translators can say “expensive cloth in bright colors” or “cloth dyed with expensive dyes.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch somewhat reorders the verse and translates:

• A wood carver makes them. The goldsmith covers them with silver from Tarshish and with gold from Uphaz. Then they are dressed in garments made from violet and purple cloth. All these gods are the work of skilled men.

Another possible rendering is:

• These idols [or, they] are made by skilled craftsmen and goldsmiths who use silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz to make them. Then they dress them with clothing made of violet and purple cloth. These idols are in all ways the work of skilled workers.

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 .