I will make a covenant of peace with them: See the comments on 34.25.

It shall be an everlasting covenant with them: An everlasting covenant is “an agreement that continues forever” (New Century Version). Translators may say “an agreement that will last.” For everlasting see the comments on “for ever” in the previous verse; see also 16.60.

And I will bless them: Revised Standard Version does not follow the Hebrew here, but prefers a reading from an Aramaic translation, called the Targum (see the Revised Standard Version footnote). The Hebrew says literally “and I will give/put/set them,” which means God will “settle” them in the land (Christian Community Bible, Moffatt) and “establish” them (Good News Translation, New International Version, New King James Version ), that is, make them strong. The Hebrew clause here may be rendered “and I will make them a powerful nation” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And multiply them: God promises that the Israelites will have many children, so that the population of the nation will increase. Good News Translation says “and increase their population.”

And will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore: My sanctuary refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. Many translations make this explicit (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version), and we recommend translators do the same. Moffatt has “my dwelling-place,” which is also acceptable. God’s promise to set, that is, “put” (New International Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible), the Temple in Jerusalem is described in great detail in chapters 40–44.

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 .