Go up to Gilead, and take balm: For Gilead see 8.22. For balm see 8.22; 51.8. Good News Translation uses a more general term for balm, “medicine.” Gilead was famous for its medical knowledge. What may not be clear from many translations for this line is that the LORD is mocking Egypt a bit, telling them to go ahead and look for some remedy, even in Gilead, but it will be to no avail. Translators can say something like “Go ahead, look for a balm in Gilead,” or even “Try to find some healing medicine in Gilead.”

Virgin daughter of Egypt: The expression virgin daughter is frequently used in the Bible of cities, nations, and smaller communities. It is used of Jerusalem (Isa 37.22), Judah (Lam 1.15), Sidon (Isa 23.12), and Babylon (Isa 47.1). Note also Jeremiah’s usage of it in 14.17. In such contexts the focus seems to be on the frailty and vulnerability of the group described. Certainly the expression itself will not be understood by many readers, so an expression such as “you unfortunate people of Egypt” can be used. Note, too, that Good News Translation moves this addressing expression to the beginning of the verse. Not only is this more natural in English and many other languages, but it helps readers see immediately that this verse is addressed to the Egyptians.

In vain you have used many medicines: Good News Translation reverses the order to “All your medicine has proved useless.” Translators may also render the line as “You have used much medicine, but none of it has done you any good.”

There is no healing for you: Translators can follow Good News Translation or have a rendering such as “You can’t be healed.”

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 .