Then I said …: This verse is Ezekiel’s response to God’s message. The response shows that Ezekiel was afraid the people would not understand or accept the message and would make fun of him. In fact, the meaning may have been obscure even to Ezekiel.

Ah Lord GOD!: For this frustrated interjection of Ezekiel, see 4.14.

They are saying of me: Apparently the people were “already” saying what follows (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant), or Ezekiel was afraid that they would say it when they hear it (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This clause may be rendered “People are saying about me” (similarly New Century Version).

Is he not a maker of allegories?: This rhetorical question refers to the “riddles” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New Jerusalem Bible), “parables” (New International Version, King James Version / New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible), or “stories” (New Century Version) that Ezekiel told in his prophecies. For the Hebrew word rendered allegories, see the comments on 17.2. The rhetorical question has the effect of criticizing or making light of Ezekiel’s messages. If that is clear in the receptor language, then translators may retain the question by saying “Isn’t he making up riddles [or, stories]?” However, some languages will find it better to use a strong statement, such as “All he does is talk in riddles” or “He’s just making up stories.” Good News Translation uses indirect speech here, saying “Everyone is already complaining that I always speak in riddles.” By making this response to God, Ezekiel implies that the people will not listen to his message.

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 .