I will make Pathros a desolation: The next place mentioned is Pathros, which refers to the southern part of Egypt (see 29.14), so Good News Translation says “southern Egypt.” Contemporary English Version wrongly takes it as a city. Translators may follow Good News Translation here, or they may say “the region of Pathros” or “the region of Pathros in the south.” For desolation see 29.9-10, 12. New Century Version renders this whole clause as “I will make southern Egypt empty.”

And will set fire to Zoan: Zoan was a city on one of the eastern branches of the Nile Delta, not far from the mouth of the river where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It was an important government center in the time of Isaiah (see Isa 19.11-15) and continued to be in Ezekiel’s time. It is also known by its Greek name “Tanis.” It may be helpful to specify that it was a city by saying “the city of Zoan” (Good News Translation). God says he will set fire to Zoan, which means he will destroy it by burning it (see the comments on Ezek 30.8). Contemporary English Version says “Zoan will be burned to the ground.”

And will execute acts of judgment upon Thebes: Thebes (“No” in Hebrew; so King James Version / New King James Version, Revised English Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) was the second most important city in Egypt after Memphis. It was located on the Nile River, about 700 kilometers (435 miles) south of the Mediterranean Sea. It was an important religious center, where many Egyptian kings built magnificent temples, the ruins of which still stand in Karnak and Luxor. Some translations try to show the importance of this city by inserting “capital city” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), but this is not justifiable. However, in many languages it will be helpful to say “the city of Thebes.” For the Hebrew phrase rendered execute acts of judgment, see the comments on 5.8. Here it may be rendered “punish” (New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version, Moffatt) or “inflict punishment” (New International Version, Christian Community Bible). If it is not possible in a language to punish a city, translators may render this clause as “and I will punish the people of the city of Thebes.”

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 .