But the entrances of the greater world are broad and safe, and really yield the fruit of immortality: For the word entrances, see the comments on verse 12; the same arguments apply here. The greater world refers to the age to come, which Good News Bible makes clear by saying “the great world to come.” It is hard to imagine where Revised Standard Version got the word really; New Revised Standard Version (and everyone else) omits this idea. The fruit of immortality probably refers to the tree of life in Gen 2.9; 3.22, 24. It is possible, as Oesterley (pages 65-66) suggests, that the author imagines the ways of the next world to be lined with such trees. More likely, however, entrances … yield the fruit of immortality is simply a poetic way of saying that they provide immortality. Good News Bible says they “lead to immortality,” which is not quite right, since the greater world is itself immortality. Immortality is to be had simply by virtue of being in it. We suggest the following model for this verse:

• But the ways* of the great world to come are wide and safe, and those who walk them are immortal [or, never die].
* One ancient translation ways; Latin entrances.

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.