Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them: God tells Ezekiel to say something else to his fellow Israelites in exile. After the list of the Israelites sins, the conjunction Therefore stresses the importance of the following prophecy, which lists even more sins. Other possible connectors are “For this reason” (Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible), “Now then” (Good News Translation), “then” (New English Bible, Anchor Bible), and “So then.” Contemporary English Version simply uses Ezekiel’s name to indicate the importance of what follows. For son of man, see Ezek 20.3; for the house of Israel, see Ezek 20.5.

Thus says the Lord GOD: See Ezek 20.3.

In this again your fathers blasphemed me: In this again may be rendered “In this way also” (New American Bible) or “This is another way” (Good News Translation; similarly New Jerusalem Bible). The demonstrative pronoun this refers to the sins of the Israelites’ ancestors described in the next verse. Your fathers is better rendered “your ancestors” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Century Version). The Hebrew verb rendered blasphemed does not refer to speaking abusively to or about God, but treating him with contempt through action, so it is better translated “insulted” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

By dealing treacherously with me: The people’s insulting action was not being faithful to God. For the Hebrew verb rendered dealing treacherously, see the comments on 14.13, where it is translated “acting faithlessly.” New Century Version renders this clause as “by being unfaithful to me” (similarly Good News Translation). Other possible models are “by rejecting me” (similarly Contemporary English Version) and “by betraying me” (similarly New Living Translation).

Here is one model for this verse:

• “Therefore, human being, say this to the people of Israel: ‘Here is what the Lord Yahweh says to you. Your ancestors treated me with contempt by being unfaithful to me in the following way.

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 .