In verse 3 God told Ezekiel to pack his belongings and go into exile during the day. In verses 4-7 these two actions are separated. Contemporary English Version wrongly implies that he did them twice.
You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight: After packing his belongings, Ezekiel had to take them outside his house during the day when the people could see what he did. Presumably he left them on the ground outside the door of his house. In some languages bring out is better rendered “take [or, carry] outside the house.”
As baggage for exile: God repeats this detail to make sure that the significance of the small basket of belongings was not forgotten, namely, that it was a small basket containing the few things that refugees or prisoners of war were allowed to take with them.
And you shall go forth yourself at evening in their sight: After taking his belongings out during the day, Ezekiel himself had to leave in the evening, that is, at or just after sunset. He had to do this before it became really dark so that the people would still be able to see him go. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch adds “when the heat subsides,” because people only began their journeys in the evening, after the heat of the day had cooled down. This addition is normally too much to put in the translation, of course, but it can be a helpful note for readers.
As men do who must go into exile: Ezekiel’s actions must remind people of prisoners being taken into exile. The word men is inclusive, so it is better rendered “people.” Good News Translation renders this clause as “as if you were going into exile.”
A model for this verse is:
• So while it is still daylight and people can see what you do, take outside [your house] your basket [or, container] with the things you have packed for leaving as a captive. At evening, while people are still watching, leave your place the way people do when they go into captivity.
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 .