Hurl (Good News Translation “throw”) translates a verb that may be used of throwing a spear (1Sam 18.11) or of throwing someone into the sea (Jonah 1.12-15). The verb appears twice again in Jeremiah (22.26, 28).

A land which neither you nor your fathers have known: Compare 9.16.

There you shall serve other gods day and night: Compare 5.19. New Jerusalem Bible translates “there you can serve other gods, day and night,” with a note indicating that this is “an ancient expression for living in exile … outside Palestine….” For the order of day and night, see 9.1.

Favor (so also New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible) is translated “mercy” by New American Bible and Good News Translation. This is the only place in the Old Testament where this word occurs; it comes from the same Hebrew root as the verb rendered “be pitied” by the Revised Standard Version footnote in 22.23, which supports the translation “mercy” or “compassion.”

Verses 11-13 make a rather long sentence, with the argument being “Because your ancestors forsook me…, and because you have done worse…, therefore I will….” Good News Translation structures it “Your ancestors turned away … But you have done even worse … So then, I will….” This is very clear in English. Translators should structure this passage in whatever way would most clearly in their language allow readers to understand what the LORD is saying.

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 .