Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate: The nations that are left round about you are the countries that were not destroyed when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, and are still there in the area when the Israelites return from exile. Contemporary English Version says “the nearby nations that survive.” When these nations see the Israelites return and see them rebuilding the towns and farming the land again, they will know, or recognize, that God is the one who did it. For this recognition formula, see verse 11. I … have rebuilt the ruined places means God caused the ruined cities and towns to be built again, and replanted that which was desolate means he caused things to grow again on fields that were empty and barren.

I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it: This sentence is an assurance that God will do what he said. I … have spoken stresses that these were God’s own words, and I will do it confirms his intention to do it. Together these clauses are almost the same as a promise, and some translations actually use that term; for example, Good News Translation says “I, the LORD, have promised that I would do this—and I will,” and Contemporary English Version has “I, the LORD, make this promise.” These are acceptable models for translators to follow.

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 .