And I will restore the fortunes of Egypt is literally “and I will return the captivity of Egypt” (similarly New International Version, King James Version / New King James Version). The Hebrew expression here has nothing to do with large amounts of money, which New Living Translation seems to imply by saying “I will restore the prosperity of Egypt.” Rather, it has a figurative meaning of rehabilitate, or restore to a previous situation. In this case it means God will bring the Egyptians back to Egypt and allow them to live there again. A good model for this clause is “and I will restore them to the way they were before.”

And bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin: This clause makes explicit what the previous one implies. Bring them back is literally “cause them to return.” The land of Pathros refers to the southern part of Egypt (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version), stretching from the town of Memphis, which was just south of the Nile Delta, to the border of Cush (modern Sudan; see the comments on verse 10). It is also known as “Upper Egypt” (New International Version, New International Reader’s Version). Since most readers will not know this background, “southern Egypt” (Good News Translation) is acceptable. Pathros is described as the land of their origin, that is, “their original home” (Good News Translation), “the land they came from” (New Century Version; similarly New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation). This phrase reflects an old tradition that the Egyptians originally came from southern Egypt and only later in history moved into the Nile Delta area as well. The restoration of the Egyptians will not be complete, because they will not be restored exactly to the way they were before. For one thing, they will be able to return only to the southern part of the land, not into the delta area. Translators may render this whole clause as “I will bring them back to their country, back to southern Egypt, their original home.” Since the Egyptians will only return to southern Egypt, they will be less of a threat to Israel.

And there they shall be a lowly kingdom: In addition, when the Egyptians return there (southern Egypt), they will be a lowly kingdom, that is, “a weak kingdom” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt), “a small kingdom” (Christian Community Bible), “an unimportant, minor kingdom” (New Living Translation; similarly New International Reader’s Version). Previously Egypt had been a large and powerful country, but after God’s punishment it will no longer be powerful. It will be small, weak, and insignificant. The Hebrew word for lowly has a sense of humiliation as well (see the comments on 17.14, where it is rendered “be humble”).

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 .