And now in some measure mercy has come to us from thee, O Lord …: The conjunction And may be rendered “But” or “Yet” (Revised English Bible), since it introduces a contrast. The Greek phrase translated in some measure can be interpreted to mean “in a great measure”; for example, New English Bible renders this clause as “And now, Lord, how great is the mercy thou hast shown us!” (similarly Myers). We believe this interpretation fits the context better, although it gives the passage a somewhat different sense from that of the parallel passage in Ezra 9.8, which speaks of mercy being shown for a short time. Another possible model for this clause is “But now, O Lord, you have been so [or, very] merciful to us.”

To leave to us a root and a name in thy holy place: The Greek word for root refers to what is left to continue growing after a tree is cut down. Here it is a figure for the Jews who have survived, ready to begin living the Jewish way of life again in Judah. A name means they have an identity as a nation. In spite of all that has happened, the Jewish people have survived. Thy holy place is the land of Judah. We may render this clause as “You have allowed some of us to survive and live as Jews in your holy land.”

And to uncover a light for us in the house of the Lord our God is a highly figurative expression. Contemporary English Version probably interprets it correctly by saying “and come to your sacred temple, where there is light for our nation once again,” that is, God has allowed the Temple to be rebuilt and it is once again a source of light, inspiration, for the Jewish people. The phrase the Lord our God refers to God in the third person. Some languages will need to use second person since Ezra is addressing God here (see the model below).

And to give us food in the time of our servitude may be expressed as “Even while we were captives, you gave us food.”

An alternative model for verses 78-79 is:

• 78 ‘But now, O Lord, you have been so merciful to us! You have allowed some of us to survive and live as Jews in this holy land of yours. 79 O Lord our God, you have let your Temple inspire us once again. Even while we were captives, you gave us food.

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.