Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: The connector Therefore introduces the result of what God will do after punishing the Israelites. Now he will restore them to the way they were before. The traditional prophetic formula thus says the Lord GOD reinforces the importance of his words here (see Ezek 39.1).

Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob is literally “Now I will return the captivity of Jacob” (similarly King James Version; see the comments on 29.14). The Hebrew expression here has nothing to do with large amounts of money, which Good News Translation seems to imply by saying “make them prosperous again.” Rather, it has a figurative meaning of rehabilitate, or restore to a previous situation. Here it means that God will give back to the Israelites the good life they had before the exile. However, many translations take this clause in its literal meaning, so that it is a promise from God to bring the Israelites back home from exile (so Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, New King James Version , Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, Christian Community Bible). This interpretation is appropriate since verses 25-29 seem to be a summary of the promises of restoration in the last few chapters. Translators may follow either interpretation here. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham; he is sometimes called Israel and is considered the father of the nation. Therefore one way to translate Jacob is “the members of the tribe [or, nation] of Israel.” Possible models for this clause are “Now I will restore the people of Jacob to the way they were before” and “Now I will bring the descendants of Jacob back from exile.”

And have mercy upon the whole house of Israel: The Hebrew verb rendered have mercy upon means “feel sorry for” or “pity” someone. New International Reader’s Version says “show my tender love for,” which some languages may find helpful. The whole house of Israel refers to both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel, that is, the whole nation (see 11.15). This phrase implies that all the Israelites who have ever been taken into exile will return to their own land. For house of Israel, see verse 12.

And I will be jealous for my holy name: The Hebrew verb rendered be jealous has no trace of the envy or the suspicions between married couples that the English term “jealous” often carries. Instead, here it refers to the intense positive feelings that God has (see the comments on 5.13). Here these strong positive feelings are directed toward maintaining his holy name, that is, his holy reputation (see Ezek 39.7). Helpful models for this clause are “I will protect my holy name” (Good News Translation), “I will not let them dishonor me” (International Children’s Bible), and “I will make sure that my name is kept holy” (New International Reader’s 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 .