The vessels that have been given you: The vessels are not the ones from the Temple taken to Babylon but ones provided by the king and the Jews in exile (see Ezra 8.25-28). No specific list or description of the objects is given and therefore a general term such as “utensils” (Good News Translation), “objects” or “things” should be used here.

Although both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use the passive construction that have been given you, it may be necessary in the receptor language to restructure this verbal construction. Because it is not specified who gave the vessels, translators may need to say “that you will receive” or “that people will give to you.” This instruction is addressed to Ezra and the pronoun is the second person singular you.

For the service of the house of your God: See the comments on Ezra 6.18.

You shall deliver is a second person singular imperative verb in Aramaic. This verb has a basic meaning of “complete” or “finish,” but here it means deliver (so Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “deposit,” while Revised English Bible has “hand over.” Note that Good News Translation has restructured the entire verse to state the command first and then the object of the command. This clause order will be more natural in many languages.

Before the God of Jerusalem: The God of Jerusalem probably means the same as “the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem” in verse 15 above. The Aramaic preposition rendered before after the verb deliver is translated different ways, depending on the perspective. The basic meaning is “in front of.” Similarly to Good News Translation, New International Version says that the vessels are to be delivered “to the God of Jerusalem.” Translators should express the meaning in the most natural manner in the receptor language.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .