I will give your houses to a people that will come: Your houses refers to the homes in which the Jews lived. When God has scattered the people, other people will come in and take over the land of Judah. A people that will come refers to Christians, but translators should not make this explicit here.

Who without having heard me will believe: These other people have not heard about God yet, but they will believe in him. Contemporary English Version says “They have not yet heard about me, but they will trust me.”

Those to whom I have shown no signs will do what I have commanded: The word signs refers to “miracles” (Good News Bible). These other people will obey God, even though God has never shown them any miracles, as he did for Israel.

Here are possible models for this verse:

• People are coming who will believe in me even though they have never heard of me yet, and I will give them your houses. I have never performed any miracles for them, but they will do what I have commanded [or, they will obey my commandments].

• I will give your houses to people who will come. These are people who have never heard of me yet, but will believe in me. I have never performed….

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.