And though King Nebuchadnezzar had made him swear by the name of the Lord: The Greek verb for had made … swear means “cause to make a strong promise.” Good News Bible adds the content of the oath by rendering this clause as “Although King Nebuchadnezzar had forced Zedekiah to swear in the Lord’s name that he would be faithful to him.” However, Good News Bible‘s “loyal to him” could mean “loyal to the Lord,” so it is better to say “loyal to Nebuchadnezzar” or “loyal to Babylonia.” Other possible models for this clause are “Even though King Nebuchadnezzar had made [or, forced] Zedekiah to make a strong promise using the name of the Lord that he would be loyal [to Nebuchadnezzar]” and “King Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah make a strong promise using the name of the Lord that he would be loyal, but….”

He broke his oath and rebelled may be translated “he broke his strong promise and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.”

And he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart: Both these idioms mean “to act stubbornly.” For the idiom stiffened his neck, see 2 Chr 30.8; Sir 16.11; Bar 2.30. The idiom hardened his heart occurs frequently in the Old Testament (see, for example, Exo 4.21; 7.3; Psa 95.8). Many translators might have similar idioms in their own language. Another English idiom for stubbornness is “bull-headed.” Other possibilities are “hard-necked” and “bone-hearted.”

And transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of Israel means Zedekiah also broke the laws of God. The Lord, the God of Israel may be rendered “the Lord God whom Israel worships.”

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• King Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah swear in the Lord’s name that he would be loyal [to Babylonia], but Zedekiah was stubborn. He was determined to do what he wanted to do. He broke his oath and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. He also broke the laws of the Lord, the God of Israel.

• Although King Nebuchadnezzar forced Zedekiah to make a strong promise, using the name of the Lord, that he would be loyal to Babylonia, Zedekiah was stubborn….

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.