Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch introduces a new section here (“Reconstruction and renewal of the kingdom”) and begins “The Lord says: ‘I will have mercy on Jacob’s descendants and turn their fate again to the good….’ ”
Thus says the LORD: See 2.2.
Behold, as elsewhere, is either untranslated or rendered by an expression such as “Look” (so New Jerusalem Bible). See 1.6.
Restore the fortunes: See verse 3.
Tents and dwellings symbolize the individual families within the nation, which is the basis for Good News Translation “I will restore my people to their land and have mercy on every family.” “Households” is another way to express the sense.
The verb rendered have compassion on is used first in 6.23 (Revised Standard Version “have … mercy”); see also 12.15; 13.14; 21.7; 31.20; 33.26; 42.12; 50.42.
The city may be understood either as a reference to Jerusalem (Good News Translation) or else taken collectively (“every city”), as with Revised English Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Bible en français courant. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has interpreted it to mean “every town,” but in the context, “Jerusalem” does seem to be the logical interpretation.
Good News Translation does not translate upon its mound, but most translations have something such as “on its hill.”
The palace shall stand where it used to be: The palace is probably better understood as “the fortress” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). New Revised Standard Version has “the citadel.” “Mansion” (Revised English Bible) or “beautiful house” (Bible en français courant) does not seem to satisfy the meaning of the Hebrew word. See its earlier usage in 9.21. The word the would seem to indicate that the readers should know which fortress is being referred to. In some languages this is a problem, but translators can say something like “the fortress of the city,” thereby not being too definite. Where it used to be is more literally “in its rightful place” (see New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “in its proper place” and New Revised Standard Version “on its rightful site”). Bible en français courant is picturesque: “in its ancient place.” Shall stand where it used to be has the sense that someone will rebuild it. Translators can say “People will rebuild the fortress where it used to be” or “The fortress will be rebuilt on its proper site.”
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 .