Sent for him, and received him: Good News Translation leaves the clause received him to be understood from the wider context. This is also true of New American Bible, which translates both verbs as “had him brought to his palace” (similarly Revised English Bible). In some languages it is possible to use a verb that refers to the formal reception by a king of one of his subjects. It is also possible to say “had him come before him [to meet with him].”
The king questioned him secretly: There are two possible ways of taking this statement. The sense may be that no one else was to know what was said between Jeremiah and the king. So Good News Translation and New International Version have “privately” for secretly. In this case the meaning is “without letting anyone else hear” or “where no one else could hear.” But it is equally possible, and quite likely in the political ferment of the time, that the king did not want anyone to know that he had spoken with Jeremiah. This is given as the reason for secrecy in the parallel passage in the next chapter at 38.24. For the first part of the verse this second possibility is followed here by New Living Translation “King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jeremiah come to the palace, where the king asked…” and Contemporary English Version “King Zedekiah secretly had me brought to his palace, where he asked….”
His house is better rendered “the palace” or “his palace” (many translations).
Is there any word from the LORD?: For word Good News Translation has “message.” It may be necessary to render this question as “Have you heard anything from the LORD?” or “Has the LORD told you anything?”
Then he said: It is Jeremiah who is still speaking, so translators can say “And Jeremiah went on to say” or “Jeremiah then said.”
You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon: This again is a typical Hebrew expression, which New Jerusalem Bible renders “you will be handed over to the king of Babylon” (so also New American Bible, Good News Translation, New International Version). But this is a passive construction, and many translators will have to use an active one with the agent supplied, as in “People [or, Enemy soldiers] will hand you over to the king of Babylonia” or “The LORD is going to let the King of Babylonia capture you” (Contemporary English Version). See 34.3.
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 .