For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you: The Hebrew word ki rendered For may be a logical connector (so Revised Standard Version) or an emphatic particle, which may be translated “Surely” or “Indeed.” For behold see Ezek 36.6. I am for you may be rendered “I am on your side” (Good News Translation), “I am concerned about you” (New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version), or “I will care for you” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). I will turn to you may be translated “I will look on you with favor” (New International Reader’s Version) or “I will come to help you” (New Living Translation [1996]). Both of these clauses mean God will now take a positive attitude toward the mountains of Israel. The pronoun you refers to the mountains of Israel, except in Good News Translation.

And you shall be tilled and sown refers to the resumption of normal farming in the land of Israel. New International Reader’s Version says “Farmers will plow your ground. They will plant seeds in it.” Although God will allow this to happen, there is no reason to assume that he will do the plowing and planting, which Contemporary English Version implies by rendering this verse as “I will take care of you by plowing your soil and planting crops on your fertile slopes.”

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 .