Compare this verse with Matt 23.34-35 and Luke 11.49-51.

I sent to you my servants the prophets, but you have taken and slain them and torn their bodies in pieces: My servants mean they were faithful to the Lord. For prophets see 2Esdras 1.1. Slain them may be rendered “murdered them.” Torn their bodies in pieces may be translated “cut up their dead bodies” (Contemporary English Version) or “mutilated their dead bodies.”

Their blood I will require of you means God will hold his people responsible for killing the prophets (compare 2 Sam 4.11; Ezek 3.18, 20; Luke 11.50). Their blood here is a figure of speech for “their murder.” Contemporary English Version renders this clause as “I will make you pay for those murders!” (similarly Good News Bible).

Says the Lord: See the comments on verse 14. Good News Bible omits this clause, but Contemporary English Version keeps it, saying “I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• I sent my servants, the prophets, to you, but you murdered them and mutilated their dead bodies. I will punish you for [doing] that. I, the Lord, have spoken.” ’

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.