complete verse (Jeremiah 50:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 50:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “I God am saying:
    When that day comes,
    the people of Israel and of Judah will come crying
    searching for me their God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘I the LORD, am-saying at that time, the people of Israel and Juda will-cry in (their) coming- to me -for-help, the LORD their God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 50:4

Since this is the beginning of a new section, Good News Translation opens with “The LORD says,” in order to indicate who is speaking.

In those days and in that time: In many languages two time expressions are unnecessarily redundant and tend to diminish the impact.

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

The people of Israel represent the northern kingdom, while the people of Judah represent the southern kingdom.

The expression shall come together does not mean they will return to their land, nor does it mean they will unite. Here the meaning is conveyed clearly by New International Version: “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God.” Note that in many languages “go” is more appropriate than come.

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 .