Though I scattered them among the nations: There is some uncertainty about the Hebrew word translated scattered. The traditional Hebrew text has the form weʾezraʿem, “and I will sow them” (King James Version, Revised Version). Many scholars such as Mitchell prefer to delete one consonant, and read waʾazarem, meaning “and I will scatter them.” It is generally accepted that this is a reference to the exile, and that the sense of “scatter” is appropriate. However, it is hardly necessary to propose changing the traditional text, because the word “sow” carries the sense of scattering seed (Delcor, Meyers & Meyers). As Baldwin and Gaide point out, the word “sow” (retained in New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) not only includes scattering as part of its meaning, but also the hope of future increase. In some languages there may be a word for “scatter” which is particularly associated with scattering seeds, and if so, it could well be appropriate in this context. In other languages it may be helpful to make the picture clear by saying, “I will scatter them among other nations [or, peoples] as a farmer sows seed” (as in Bible en français courant, New English Bible footnote). It is not certain whether this action is best interpreted as referring to past events, the exiles of 721 B.C. and 586 B.C., or to an event still in the future (R. L. Smith). Revised Standard Version and most modern English versions take it to refer to the past and translate with a perfect tense (Good News Translation “have scattered”) or a simple past tense (scattered). Some however use a future (New Jerusalem Bible) or a conditional form (New English Bible/ Revised English Bible, New International Version). A past tense seems most likely. In some languages it will be helpful to render them as “the people of Judah” or “my people,” as they have not been identified for several verses.

Yet in far countries they shall remember me: The Hebrew has no word for countries, so some modern versions simply say “from far away” (Jerusalem Bible, Beck, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Translators may also say “yet far away from their land.” The far countries are of course the places where the people were in exile. For the thought of this clause, compare 1 Kgs 8.46-51. Remember does not mean simply to recall something that had been forgotten, but rather to think carefully about something that had been overlooked before. Translators should be sure to choose the appropriate term.

And with their children they shall live and return: This clause is somewhat ambiguous. It could mean either that the parents will reside with their children, and that both parents and children will return to the Promised Land, or that the parents and their children will all survive and return to the land. The first alternative is not what the Hebrew intends, and arises only from the ambiguity of the English word live. The second is the interpretation of Good News Translation, New International Version, and Bible en français courant. Other versions, such as New American Bible, New English Bible/ Revised English Bible, and Contemporary English Version, on the basis of the Septuagint read the Hebrew word for live with different vowels, and understand it to mean “give life” in the sense of “rear their children” (New American Bible, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). This reading is supported by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, Driver, Lamarche, Delcor, R. L. Smith, and Meyers & Meyers, and does seem to offer the best sense. The rendering “they will instruct their children” (New Jerusalem Bible) depends on a change in the Hebrew text, and is not recommended. It is not entirely clear who will return: the children, the parents, or both. In Hebrew “the children” are the nearest possible subjects for the verb, and are taken as such by Mitchell, Delcor, and R. L. Smith. Baldwin on the other hand holds the view that both children and parents are intended, and this view is expressed in Good News Translation “return home together” (also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). If correct, it points to a shorter period of exile. New American Bible and New English Bible/ Revised English Bible could be understood to mean that only the parents will return, but this seems an unlikely interpretation. In a context of blessing, it seems most likely that both parents and children would return. In translating the verb return, translators should be careful not to give the idea that those returning to the Promised Land had actually been there before. In all likelihood the vast majority had been born in exile, but they still looked upon Judah as the homeland where they belonged, and this is why the verb return could be used in Hebrew.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .