This verse repeats the theme of God giving Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as compensation for not capturing Tyre.

I have given him the land of Egypt as his recompense for which he labored: The Hebrew expression rendered I have given is past tense, not future, indicating that God’s decision has already been made. In some languages it may not be possible to reflect this distinction since the defeat of Egypt is still in the future. But translators may say “I have decided to give.” Recompense is a “reward” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Jerusalem Bible, Christian Community Bible), “payment” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Moffatt), or “wages” (New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), but the Hebrew word here can also mean “deeds” or “work,” so some translations say “labor” (King James Version / New King James Version, New American Standard Bible). For which he labored (literally “which he labored in/for it”) is generally taken to refer to the recompense or “reward/payment”; for example, New International Version says “as a reward for his efforts,” New Living Translation has “as a reward for his work,” and Good News Translation translates “in payment for his services” (similarly Revised English Bible). But this is not the only possible interpretation. Those translators who use the term “labor” instead of recompense give as the meaning of this clause “for the work that he did [God gave him Egypt]”; for example, New American Standard Bible says “for his labor which he performed.” A third alternative gives a different sense to the Hebrew word that means “in/for it.” The Septuagint understood it to refer to Tyre, so it renders this clause as “For his work that he did against Tyre.” Jerusalem Bible is similar with “In reward for his efforts against Tyre.” All three of these interpretations are acceptable.

Because they worked for me: When the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar attacked Tyre, they were working for God. Because they were working for God in attacking Tyre, even though they failed to capture it, God promised to reward them by giving Egypt to them. Good News Translation renders this clause as “because his army was working for me,” and Contemporary English Version says “because he and his army have been following my orders.”

Says the Lord GOD: This solemn pronouncement emphasizes that God speaks these words.

Models for this verse are:

• I have given [or, will give] the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as a reward for the work he did for me.” This is Yahweh God’s solemn word.

• I have given [or, will give] the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as a reward for the work he did against Tyre. He did this because I told him to.” This is Yahweh God’s solemn word.

• I have given [or, will give] the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar for [all] the work he did. He has been working for me.” This is Yahweh God’s solemn word.

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 .