And to the others he said in my hearing: Next God spoke to the others, that is, the six executioners (see Ezek 9.2). In my hearing means he spoke loud enough for Ezekiel to hear (compare verse 1). This clause may be rendered “Then I heard him say to the other men.”

Pass through the city after him, and smite: God tells the six men to follow the man in the linen clothes through the city and to kill those who do not have a mark on their foreheads. The Hebrew is abrupt here, and many languages will have to insert an object for the verb smite, for example, “the wicked people.” New Living Translation adds “everyone whose forehead is not marked.” Contemporary English Version combines this verse with the next one, beginning God’s words with “Follow him and put to death everyone who doesn’t have a mark on their forehead.” This is acceptable.

Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity: See the comments on 5.11 and 7.4.

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 .