They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing …: Silver and gold are marks of wealth and security, but for those who have gained their wealth by mistreating their neighbors (see verses 10-11) it will be useless when God punishes Israel. They cast their silver into the streets means they will throw it away “like garbage” (Contemporary English Version). Their gold is like an unclean thing means it will so repulsive to them that they will want to throw it out as well. An unclean thing is something ritually impure that must not even be touched. In those cultures where silver and gold are unknown, indigenous items that indicate wealth may be used. Alternatively, a general term for “money” is acceptable.

Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: Their wealth will not be able to save them when God punishes Israel in anger. They will not be able to use it to buy their safety, or to bribe anyone to help them. For the day, see Ezek 7.7; for God’s wrath, see verse 12. The LORD renders God’s name “Yahweh” (New Jerusalem Bible). In those languages where it is confusing for God speak of himself in the third person, it is acceptable to render in the day of the wrath of the LORD as “in the day of my wrath” or “on the day when I become really angry.”

They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it: Food will be so scarce during the siege of Jerusalem that they will not be able to buy food with the money they have, and even though silver and gold are valuable, they cannot be eaten as food.

For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity: The wealth they had is what caused them to sin. The Hebrew particle ki rendered For may be a logical connector or an emphatic marker here. For stumbling block, see the comments on 3.20. New Century Version provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “because it caused them to fall into sin.”

A model for this verse is:

• They will throw their money [or, silver] away in the streets, and be too repulsed by their wealth [or, gold] to look at it, for their money and wealth will not be able to save them when I punish the land. They will not be able to use it to buy food or to fill their stomachs. For [or, Indeed] it was their wealth that led them into sin.

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 .