Warn the nations is thought by some scholars to make no sense in the context, though there is no textual basis either for its removal or for its replacement by an alternative wording. It may then be understood as either a warning to the nations concerning the destruction that is about to take place or a call to the nations to witness the destruction that the LORD is bringing upon Jerusalem. A number of modern translations identify this as a warning (Moffatt, Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), though the verb itself literally means “Make … known” (New American Bible) or “Tell” (Revised English Bible).

There is, however, another interpretation of the Hebrew put forward by some scholars which translators should consider. It could be expressed as “Announce to those nations, ‘This is the way!’ ” This interpretation is possible because the word rendered as Warn in the Revised Standard Version text is more often translated as “proclaim” or “announce”; the word Revised Standard Version translates as that he is coming really means “See!” or “Look!” or “This way!” (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project). Thus the line is addressed to the various groups of the invading army, telling them which way to go.

He (see verse 13) refers to the “enemies” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) if translators follow either of the first two interpretations above.

The Hebrew underlying announce to Jerusalem can also be interpreted as “summon against,” which seems reflected in Revised English Bible “proclaim the doom of Jerusalem.” This interpretation would also fit well with the interpretation of the first line as telling the enemy troops which way to go. The two lines could be “Announce to those nations, ‘Here, go this way,’ and summon them against Jerusalem.”

There is some discussion regarding the meaning of the word translated besiegers by Revised Standard Version and “enemies” by Good News Translation. The word literally means “guards” or “watchers,” and is not normally used in the sense that it has here. Jerusalem Bible renders “Enemies,” with a footnote that the translators are following the Septuagint. However, it would seem possible to assume this meaning for the Hebrew, thereby making a footnote unnecessary. In fact, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Luther 1984 and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch follow this interpretation, together with Good News Translation, without a footnote. Other commentators prefer the meaning of “scouts,” the vanguard of the approaching army, and that would also be acceptable in the translation.

Shout against must be understood in the sense of “lift up their battle cry against” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

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 .