For Son of man, see Ezek 12.2.

What is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying…?: This is a rhetorical question that does not need an answer. It serves only to introduce the topic that this subsection is about. For languages that do not use rhetorical questions, some restructuring will be necessary; for example, “you’ve heard people in Israel use the saying…” (Contemporary English Version), “you Israelites are falsely saying among yourselves…,” “you Israelites have a proverb that says…,” or “now, about that proverb that you Israelites have been using among yourselves….” Most cultures are familiar with what a proverb is. It is a short saying that contains some bit of wisdom or advice. Here Ezekiel’s message is a reaction to a contemporary proverb. According to Revised Standard Version and some other versions, the proverb was about the land of Israel. Although this is a possible translation, the real meaning of this clause is that it was a proverb the Israelites were telling each other. Revised English Bible says “proverb current in the land of Israel,” and New Living Translation has “proverb they quote in Israel,” but a better model is “proverb you Israelites say to each other.” This model retains the pronoun you, which is lost in some translations (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). This pronoun refers to the people who were still living in Jerusalem and the rest of Judah—they were the ones among whom the saying had originated—but Ezekiel’s audience, those who were in exile in Babylonia, had no doubt also heard and repeated the popular saying.

The days grow long, and every vision comes to naught: The days grow long means many days go by; it does not mean the days get longer as during the spring. Every vision comes to nought means none of the prophecies in visions comes true. This proverb may be rendered “Time passes [or, The days go by], but the prophecies [or, predictions] are not fulfilled [or, come to nothing].” Further, it may be helpful to introduce the proverb with “You say,” “The proverb says,” or “The saying is.” This saying reflected a growing belief among the Israelites that the predictions of prophets such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel were false, because the judgment they had predicted had not come. So the people thought they did not need to take the prophets’ messages seriously. In this way the people who used the saying were also showing contempt for God.

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 .