Then the third, that is Zerubbabel, who had spoken of women and truth, began to speak: The third refers to the third bodyguard. Contemporary English Version says “The third young man.” For Zerubbabel see the introductory comments on this subsection. As in 1 Esdras 4.1 and 1 Esd 3.17b (see the comments there), had spoken is better rendered “had written” (Good News Bible). For rendering truth as “reliability,” see the introductory comments on verses 34-40. An alternative model for this verse is:

• The third man, who was named Zerubbabel, had written, “Women and reliability.” He now began to speak:….

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.