And he said to me: God begins to speak again to Ezekiel.

For Son of man, see 2.1.

Go, get you to the house of Israel: The Hebrew text has two commands here, but it is more natural in most languages to say simply “go to the people of Israel” (Good News Translation). For the house of Israel, that is, the Israelites, see Ezek 3.1.

And speak with my words to them: Speak with my words renders an unusual idiom in the Hebrew. It carries some emphasis, which suggests either “speak with my authority” or “repeat my exact words.” These nuances are difficult to convey in translation, and most translations simply leave out the word with (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). But New Revised Standard Version captures the sense suggested by Greenberg, saying “speak my very words” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Translators may also say “speak on my behalf” to reflect Zimmerli’s suggestion. Either interpretation seems acceptable in the context, although in light of the next two verses where God says he is sending Ezekiel to people whose language he (Ezekiel) speaks, “say my exact words” fits slightly better.

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 .