For Son of man (International Children’s Bible “Human being”),

Prophesy against the prophets of Israel …: God tells Ezekiel to give his message of judgment to the false prophets of Israel.

Prophesy and say to those who prophesy out of their own minds: Instead of prophesy, which repeats the command to proclaim God’s warning (so also New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), the Hebrew text has “who prophesy,” which describes the people who were actively engaged in prophetic work at that time. New International Version follows the Hebrew text by saying “who are now prophesying” (similarly New Revised Standard Version). Some scholars suggest that the Hebrew means these prophets were ranting, that is, talking on and on without stopping, and were more pleased to listen to themselves talk rather than to listen to God’s message. Although the Hebrew text is a bit clumsy here, it is best to follow it if possible as in New International Version (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project). Some translations try to smooth over the difficulty by omitting “who prophesy” (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This is acceptable if the receptor language demands it. Those who prophesy out of their own minds were the false prophets who made up their own prophecies. New Living Translation says “who are inventing their own prophecies.” They did not listen to God and pass on his messages. Minds is literally “heart” (New King James Version ). In Hebrew culture the heart is the center of thought and will (see 3.7), as the mind or head is in English. Each language will have to choose what is the most appropriate term for its own culture. For this clause New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh say “those who prophesy out of their own imagination” (similarly Contemporary English Version), and New Jerusalem Bible has “those who make up prophecies out of their own heads.” From reading Revised Standard Version, some readers might think that those who prophesy out of their own minds are not the same people as the prophets of Israel. So translators need to be sure that their readers understand they are the same people (see the model below).

Hear the word of the LORD!: This is what Ezekiel had to say to these false prophets who did not listen to God’s messages. The sign of true prophets is that they listen to God and speak out only his messages. Good News Translation uses indirect speech, saying “Tell them to listen to the word of the LORD,” which other languages may find helpful.

Many translators have found that “one who speaks for God” is a good way to render prophet. But then the rendering for “false prophet” results in a rather awkward expression. If so, the following model of this verse may be helpful:

• “Mortal man, speak out my message against those in Israel who claim to be my spokesmen. They make up my words [or, messages] out of their own heads. Say to them, ‘Listen to what the LORD is saying to you.’

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 .