Jeremiah 49:14

49:14 I said, ¹  “I have heard a message from the Lord.

A messenger has been sent among the nations to say,

‘Gather your armies and march out against her!

Prepare to do battle with her!’” ² 

Jeremiah 49:31

49:31 The Lord says, ³  “Army of Babylon, ⁴  go and attack

a nation that lives in peace and security.

They have no gates or walls to protect them. ⁵ 

They live all alone.

[49:14]  ¹ tn The words “I said” are not in the text but it is generally agreed that the words that follow are Jeremiah’s. These words are supplied in the translation to make clear that the speaker has shifted from the Lord to Jeremiah.

[49:14]  ² tn Heb “Rise up for battle.” The idea “against her” is implicit from the context and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[49:31]  ³ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[49:31]  ⁴ tn The words “Army of Babylon” are not in the text but are implicit from the context. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[49:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “no gates and no bar,” i.e., “that lives securely without gates or bars.” The phrase is used by the figure of species for genus (synecdoche) to refer to the fact that they have no defenses, i.e., no walls, gates, or bars on the gates. The figure has been interpreted in the translation for the benefit of the average reader.