Then the Spirit lifted me up: Then renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since it introduces what happened next in Ezekiel’s first vision. Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation understand the Spirit as the Holy Spirit, but the Hebrew says “a spirit” or “a wind” (see the comments on 1.12 and 2.2). The best translation here is “a wind,” but the Hebrew word here is so ambiguous that “a spirit [from God]” or “the power of God” is also acceptable. Lifted me up means the wind (or God’s power) lifted Ezekiel into the air and began to carry him away.
As the glory of the LORD arose from its place: As the footnote in Revised Standard Version shows, the Hebrew here actually reads “blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.” Good News Translation and many other versions follow the Hebrew. However, these words come in very abruptly, and the text does not say who spoke them. To avoid this difficulty, some scholars have suggested that a small change be made to one Hebrew word. The Hebrew word for “blessed” is baruk, which is very similar to the word for “when [he] arose” (berum). It would have been easy for a scribe to write down the wrong word when he was copying the text. Although the word berum makes very good sense in the context, it is not found in any Hebrew manuscripts. Therefore Revised Standard Version is probably wrong to follow the reading with berum. Instead, it is better to assume that in the loud sound Ezekiel heard something like a “voice,” or more likely the voices of angels, singing this song of praise to God. The sound came from behind him, so he didn’t see who or what was making the sound. Therefore we recommend that translators maintain this uncertainty if possible and not specify whose “voice” was singing these words. New International Version tries to retain the abruptness of this song of praise by separating it from its context with long dashes. This makes it appear to be the words of Ezekiel in an outburst of praise unconnected with what he saw or heard. This is possible, but very unlikely.
“Blessed” may be rendered “Praise” (Good News Translation). For the glory of the LORD, see the comments on 1.28a. Here it may be translated “the wonderful majesty of Yahweh” or “Yahweh’s wonderful power.” As part of the song of praise, from its place means “in his place” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This phrase refers either to the Temple in Jerusalem or to God’s place in heaven (so Good News Translation, New Century Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). But the whole clause also can have two meanings as follows: (1) the inhabitants of “his place,” that is, the people in Jerusalem, or the angels in heaven, should praise God, or (2) people and angels should praise God when he is “in his place.” Most translations take it in the second sense.
I heard behind me the sound of a great earthquake: As Ezekiel was being carried away from the vision of God’s throne, he heard a loud sound behind him. It was the sound of the song. The Hebrew word for sound can also mean “noise” (Contemporary English Version) or “voice” (Good News Translation, King James Version). The voice of the singing sounded like a great earthquake (literally “a great rumbling”). For the sound of a great earthquake, New Revised Standard Version has “the sound of loud rumbling,” Contemporary English Version says “a loud, thundering noise,” and New Century Version translates “a loud rumbling sound.”
Models for this verse are:
• Then a wind lifted me up from the ground, and as it began to carry me away, I heard a loud roaring noise behind me, which was saying [or, like angels singing], ‘Praise the majesty of the LORD in the place where he lives.’
• Then the power of God [or, a wind] lifted me up from the ground, and as it began to carry me away, I heard a noise like an earthquake behind me. It was saying, ‘Praise the wonderful power of Yahweh in the place where he lives.’
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 .