For thus says the Lord GOD: This clause is not a prophetic authorization of the prophecy, as in verse 9; rather, it is a prophetic introduction to a new section of the prophecy which takes a surprising turn. The Hebrew particle ki rendered For has a contrastive sense here, so it is better translated “But” (New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation), “however” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “Yet” (New International Version, King James Version / New King James Version, New American Bible). For the prophetic formula thus says the Lord GOD, see Ezek 29.3. A good way to express this clause is “But the Lord Yahweh says this.”

At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered: Forty years is the time that Egypt will be in ruins and the Egyptians will spend in exile in other countries (see the previous verses). I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered means God will bring back the Egyptians from the countries where he had sent them into exile (compare the same promise to the Israelites in 11.17). Gather the Egyptians may be rendered “bring the Egyptians back” (Good News Translation) or “bring the Egyptians home” (New Living Translation). Peoples here means “nations” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New Century Version), but it is acceptable for translators to say “places” (Contemporary English Version) or “countries,” if that is more natural in their language. From the peoples among whom they were scattered may be translated “from among the people where I scattered them.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .