Thus says the Lord GOD: This traditional prophetic formula is used once again (see Ezek 30.2). Here it introduces the third part of this prophecy against Egypt and gives it more authority.

I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt: I will put an end to means “I will destroy” (New Living Translation, New Century Version, Moffatt; similarly Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible). For the Hebrew word rendered wealth, see Ezek 30.4 and 29.19. As the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, this word can also mean “multitude” (King James Version / New King James Version), and many translations prefer this interpretation by saying “throngs” (New American Bible), “hordes” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, Christian Community Bible), “huge population” (Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible) or “great numbers of people” (New Century Version). But a few think the wealth of Egypt refers to the “Egyptian army” (Contemporary English Version; similarly New International Reader’s Version). In this context it is best to take it to refer to the people of Egypt.

By the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon: God will use King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia as his agent to attack and destroy Egypt (compare 29.19-20). For Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, see 26.7. Other ways of expressing this whole phrase are “through the power of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” (New Century Version; similarly New Living Translation), “I will use King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia” (Good News Translation; similarly New International Reader’s Version), and “I will send King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia” (Contemporary English Version).

Translators may need to rearrange the last sentence of this verse to make it sound natural, for example, “I will send [or, use] the king of Babylonia, Nebuchadnezzar, to destroy the numerous people who live in Egypt” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

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 .