Two years translates a Hebrew idiom rendered “two whole years” by Revised Standard Version in Gen 41.1. Most English translations have simply “Within two years.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “In exactly two years.” In some languages the way to say Within two years is “Before two years have passed.”

All the vessels of the LORD’s house is translated “all the Temple treasures” by Good News Translation. Another way to express the meaning is with “all the articles of the LORD’s house” (so New International Version), “all the utensils of the temple” (Bible en français courant), or “all the items for worship from the temple.” See 27.16.

Jeconiah is better known as “Jehoiachin” (Good News Translation); see the note on “Coniah” at 22.24.

All the exiles … who went to Babylon is “all of the people … who went into exile in Babylonia” in Good News Translation. Other languages will use something like “all the people … who the king of Babylonia took into exile.”

For effect, Good News Translation places the often used expression says the LORD as an independent sentence at the end of the verse: “I, the LORD, have spoken.” See also 1.8.

Break the yoke can be rendered as in verse 2.

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 .