The concept of someone being shamed is known in most cultures, although in many languages it becomes mixed with the idea of guilt. Guilt involves a feeling of responsibility or remorse for sin or a crime, whereas “shame” can mean the painful feeling a person has because they are conscious of having done something dishonorable, or it can refer to the public disgrace that comes from such deeds. In this verse the focus is on this idea of disgrace much more than on any embarrassment. Thus the first line might be “Just as great disgrace [or, shame] comes to a thief when caught….” Good News Translation and New International Version both have “disgraced.”

Probably when caught here refers to being found out rather than to being arrested, hence the “surprised in the act” of Traduction œcuménique de la Bible.

The house of Israel (Septuagint “the sons of Israel”) is a Hebrew way of referring to the “people of Israel” (Good News Translation).

When used of the nation, shall be shamed describes the confusion and frustration that results from the failure of their plan, a frequently repeated concept in the book of Jeremiah.

They, their …: We notice again that the text has third person here (they), but Bible en français courant and Good News Translation have maintained second person (“you”). Translators should continue the practice they have followed since 2.3.

Kings … princes … priests … prophets were the national and religious leaders of the people. For the interpretation of princes as “officials” (Good News Translation), see 1.18; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “high officials.”

It is sometimes more natural to restructure this verse so it is clear that house of Israel includes all the people, the kings, the leaders, the priests and the prophets. Bible en français courant, for example, has “One of these days, you, the people of Israel, people, kings and ministers [leaders], priests and prophets, will be shamed like a thief when he is surprised [in the act].”

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 .