When I passed by you again and looked upon you: These clauses pick up the story in exactly the same way as verse 6 (see the comments there). Revised Standard Version inserts the word again because this is the second time God came past the girl lying by the side of the road.

Behold renders the Hebrew word hinneh, which adds to the vividness of the story.

You were at the age for love means the girl was old enough to have sex. The Hebrew word for love means sexual lovemaking, not the romantic impression given by Good News Translation. Since the age for love can be misunderstood to be about romance and not sex, better renderings for this clause are “you were old enough to lie with a man” and “you were old enough to have sex” (Contemporary English Version).

And I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: Many translations omit the initial conjunction and (so New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation), but it would also be acceptable to render it “So” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version) or “As a result.” The Hebrew word for skirt actually refers to the “edge” (New Revised Standard Version) or “corner” (New International Version, New American Bible) of a cloak or robe, but in most languages it is more natural to refer to the garment as a whole, especially when it must cover the girl’s whole body. Translators may say “coat” (Good News Translation), “robe” (Contemporary English Version, New Century Version), “cloak” (New Living Translation), or “garment.” The English word skirt refers to a particular piece of clothing worn by a woman, so it is not the best rendering here. Covered your nakedness specifically means God covered the girl’s genitals with his cloak, but it can be understood to apply to her whole body as well. Revised Standard Version translates this clause literally, but another possible rendering is “covered you because you were naked.” This action of a man spreading the edge of his cloak over a woman was a symbolic gesture to show that he was offering to marry and support her (compare Ruth 3.9). Many translators put this information in a footnote. We do not recommend that it be included in the text.

Yea, I plighted my troth to you is literally “and I swore [an oath] to you.” Yea renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which may be translated “Then” (Contemporary English Version) since it introduces what God did next. For an oath see the comments on 5.11. Here God made a solemn promise, and translators can use whatever expression or word conveys that sense in their language. I pledged my troth to you may be rendered “I gave you my solemn oath” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) or “I … gave you my promise” (New Century Version). The Hebrew does not say what he promised to do, but Revised Standard Version adds my troth to indicate that marriage is in view. New Living Translation says “declared my marriage vows,” and Parole de Vie has “I swore to remain faithful to you.”

And entered into a covenant with you … and you became mine: Part of God’s promise to the girl was that he made a covenant with her. The Hebrew word for covenant refers to an agreement between people. Entered into a covenant may be rendered “made [or, established] an agreement with you.” Usually the covenant in the Old Testament refers to the agreement God made with Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai and was in the terms “I will be Israel’s God, and they will be my people.” Here only the second part of it is mentioned. You became mine does not mean God owned the girl as if she were an object, but it means she belonged to him in a relationship of commitment, like spouses belong to their partners. In some languages translators may need to say “you became the one I took care of.” Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model for the last half of this verse, saying “Then I solemnly promised that you would belong to me and that I, the LORD God, would take care of you.”

Says the Lord GOD: This solemn pronouncement emphasizes that God speaks these words. For the Lord GOD, see Ezek 16.3. For many languages it may be ponderous and unnatural to repeat this clause, but it is best to keep it if possible, even if it is set apart or in parentheses. One possible model is “This is the Lord Yahweh’s solemn declaration.”

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 .