The physical act of circumcision was the means by which the male child became a member of the Israelite community. But the LORD indicates that physical circumcision is insufficient to put an individual in a right relationship with him. True circumcision must be an act of the heart.

Circumcise and remove the foreskin are two ways of saying the same thing; thus Revised English Bible has “circumcise … circumcise.” In many languages it will be preferable to use only one form.

In the first line the LORD is in third person even though it is he who is speaking, and the rest of the verse uses first person. Some translators will have “… for me, the LORD.” Note Good News Translation, for example: “… me, your LORD.”

There are two slightly different ways to interpret the first two lines. One is to treat them as meaning exactly the same, in which case physical circumcision is not being referred to at all. It is only figurative. The second way is to retain the idea of physical circumcision in the first line, making it clear that it must be done to the LORD, as in “circumcise yourselves for the LORD.” As one commentator points out, some other nations also practiced circumcision, but Israel was to do it for the LORD. Then the second line would show that in fact more than the physical act was required, as Israel was to dedicate their hearts, the center of their planning and thinking, to the LORD as well. Translators would then have something such as “and dedicate your hearts to him as well” for the second line. This second interpretation seems preferable, although it is not always possible to render it naturally. Where circumcision is unknown, however, or its religious significance is likely to be misunderstood, translators will generally find it more satisfactory to follow the first interpretation.

The first interpretation is expressed by Good News Translation, which drops the figure of circumcision, though interpreting the figure twice: “Keep your covenant with me … dedicate yourselves to me.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch retains the figure, but interprets it: “Circumcise yourselves in the way that is pleasing to me, that is, in your hearts. Remove what separates you from me.” Revised English Bible translates circumcise yourselves to the LORD as “circumcise yourselves to the service of the LORD,” thus partially interpreting the imagery.

For O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, see verse 3. In some languages this form of address would more naturally occur either at the beginning of this verse, or even at the beginning of the direct speech in verse 3. In this latter case, rather than repeat the phrase, the translation could be something such as “For this is what the LORD says: ‘You people of Judah and Jerusalem, plow up your unplowed fields….’ ”

Lest means “so that not.” Good News Translation conveys that meaning with “If you don’t.” Another way to express the sense is “Otherwise.”

It may not be possible to speak of wrath (Good News Translation “anger”) that goes forth like fire … with none to quench it. Rather it may be necessary to speak of “anger that burns like a fire that no one can put out.” Or it may be necessary to shift to the LORD as subject: “I will become angry and will destroy you like a fire that no one can put out.”

Because of the evil of your doings is a typical Hebrew noun construction, which may be better stated as in Good News Translation: “because of the evil things you have done.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the last part of the verse as “Otherwise my anger will come upon you and burn like a fire. Then there will be nothing that can extinguish it; you have done too much evil!”

The whole verse may also be restructured:

• Circumcise yourselves for me, the LORD, and dedicate your hearts to me also. For if you don’t all your evil deeds will cause me to become angry with an anger that will destroy you like a fire no one can put out.

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 .