In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month: Again Ezekiel carefully records the date of this prophecy (compare 1.1-2; 8.1; 20.1; 24.1). It was nearly ten years after the Babylonians had taken King Jehoiachin, Ezekiel and many others as prisoners (made explicit by Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version). In the tenth year means that it was at least nine years but not yet ten. Contemporary English Version says “Ten years after,” which is incorrect. A good model for the whole date is “After the people had been in exile more than nine years, on the twelfth day of the tenth month.” When translating the date, translators should follow the most natural order of recording dates in their own language. For those translators who include footnotes in their Bibles, it is appropriate to indicate that this date is probably January 7, 587 B.C.

This prophecy against Egypt also begins with the traditional formula the word of the LORD came to me, which Good News Translation renders “the LORD spoke to me.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .