Jeremiah 1:7

1:7 The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go ¹  to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

Jeremiah 19:1

An Object Lesson from a Broken Clay Jar

19:1 The Lord told Jeremiah, ²  “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. ³  Take with you ⁴  some of the leaders of the people and some of the leaders ⁵  of the priests.

Jeremiah 23:1

New Leaders over a Regathered Remnant

23:1 The Lord says, ⁶  “The leaders of my people are sure to be judged. ⁷  They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered. ⁸ 

Jeremiah 48:35

48:35 I will put an end in Moab

to those who make offerings at her places of worship. ⁹ 

I will put an end to those who sacrifice to other gods.

I, the Lord, affirm it! ¹⁰ 

Jeremiah 50:33

50:33 The Lord who rules over all ¹¹  says,

“The people of Israel are oppressed.

So too are the people of Judah. ¹² 

All those who took them captive are holding them prisoners.

They refuse to set them free.

[1:7]  ¹ tn Or “For you must go and say.” The Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) is likely adversative here after a negative statement (cf. BDB 474 s.v. כִּי 3.e). The Lord is probably not giving a rationale for the denial of Jeremiah’s objection but redirecting his focus, i.e., “do not say…but go…and say.”

[19:1]  ² tn The word “Jeremiah” is not in the text. Some Hebrew mss and some of the versions have “to me.” This section, 19:1–20:6 appears to be one of the biographical sections of the book of Jeremiah where incidents in his life are reported in third person. See clearly 9:14 and 20:1-3. The mss and versions do not represent a more original text but are translational or interpretive attempts to fill in a text which had no referent. They are like the translational addition that has been supplied on the basis of contextual indicators.

[19:1]  ³ tn Heb “an earthenware jar of the potter.”

[19:1]  ⁴ tc The words “Take with you” follow the reading of the Syriac version and to a certain extent the reading of the Greek version (the latter does not have “with you”). The Hebrew text does not have these words but they are undoubtedly implicit.

[19:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “elders” both here and before “of the people.”

[23:1]  ³ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[23:1]  ⁴ sn Heb This particle once again introduces a judgment speech. The indictment is found in v. 1 and the announcement of judgment in v. 2. This leads into an oracle of deliverance in vv. 3-4. See also the note on the word “judged” in 22:13.

[23:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “Woe to the shepherds who are killing and scattering the sheep of my pasture.” See the study note on 22:13 for the significance of “Sure to be judged” (Heb “Woe”) See the study note for the significance of the metaphor introduced here.

[48:35]  ⁴ tn Heb “high place[s].” For the meaning and significance of this term see the study note on 7:31.

[48:35]  ⁵ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[50:33]  ⁵ tn Heb “Yahweh of armies.” For an explanation of this title see the study note on 2:19.

[50:33]  ⁶ tn Heb “Oppressed are the people of Israel and the people of Judah together,” i.e., both the people of Israel and Judah are oppressed. However, neither of these renderings is very poetic. The translation seeks to achieve the same meaning with better poetic expression.