He said to me may be translated “He continued to say” (similarly Good News Bible).

Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those who from time to time are sown in it: It is not clear whether the womb of the earth means that the earth has a womb or that the earth is a womb. In either case the meaning here is clear enough: The earth, like a human womb, produces people one at a time, that is, “at regular intervals” (Good News Bible). There may be cultures where translators can use the imagery of the womb, but many languages will use nonfigurative language; for example, Contemporary English Version renders this verse as follows:

• He said, “That’s the way it is with the world. I have made it so that a certain number of people live here at a time.

A similar model is:

• He said to me, “That’s the way it is with the earth. People come into the world one at a time [or, People are not all born at the same time].

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.