Jeremiah 2:23

2:23 “How can you say, ‘I have not made myself unclean.

I have not paid allegiance to ¹  the gods called Baal.’

Just look at the way you have behaved in the Valley of Hinnom! ² 

Think about the things you have done there!

You are like a flighty, young female camel

that rushes here and there, crisscrossing its path. ³ 

Jeremiah 4:18

4:18 “The way you have lived and the things you have done ⁴ 

will bring this on you.

This is the punishment you deserve, and it will be painful indeed. ⁵ 

The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart.” ⁶ 

Jeremiah 22:21

22:21 While you were feeling secure I gave you warning. ⁷ 

But you said, “I refuse to listen to you.”

That is the way you have acted from your earliest history onward. ⁸ 

Indeed, you have never paid attention to me.

[2:23]  ¹ tn Heb “I have not gone/followed after.” See the translator’s note on 2:5 for the meaning and usage of this idiom.

[2:23]  ² tn Heb “Look at your way in the valley.” The valley is an obvious reference to the Valley of Hinnom where Baal and Molech were worshiped and child sacrifice was practiced.

[2:23]  ³ sn The metaphor is intended to depict Israel’s lack of clear direction and purpose without the Lord’s control.

[4:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “Your way and your deeds.”

[4:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “How bitter!”

[4:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “Indeed, it reaches to your heart.” The subject must be the pain alluded to in the last half of the preceding line; the verb is masculine, agreeing with the adjective translated “painful.” The only other possible antecedent “punishment” is feminine.

[22:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “I spoke to you in your security.” The reference is to the sending of the prophets. Compare this context with the context of 7:25. For the nuance “security” for this noun (שַׁלְוָה, shalvah) rather than “prosperity” as many translate see Pss 122:7; 30:6 and the related adjective (שָׁלֵו, shalev) in Jer 49:31; Job 16:2; 21:23.

[22:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “from your youth.” Compare the usage in 2:2; 3:24 and compare a similar idea in 7:25.