And when they say to you, ‘Why do you sigh?’: These clauses show that the reason for Ezekiel’s sighing was to attract the attention of the people. Because the people ask a question, many translations use the verb “ask” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) instead of say. In many languages translators will use indirect speech here, as in “And when they ask you why you sigh” (similarly Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).
You shall say, ‘Because of the tidings. When it comes…’: God then gives Ezekiel the answer to the people’s question. Good News Translation begins the answer with “it is because of the news that is coming,” which translates the Hebrew better than Revised Standard Version‘s rendering. God does not say what the news is, nor is it clear if the news has already come. Some translations imply that Ezekiel has already heard it; for example, New Century Version says “Because of what I have heard is going to happen” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation, New English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). However, others suggest that Ezekiel is still waiting to hear the news; for example, New International Version and New American Standard Bible say “Because of the news that is coming” (similarly Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible). The Hebrew here can have either meaning.
Every heart will melt and all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water: Whether or not Ezekiel knows exactly what the news is, it is clearly “terrifying news” (Contemporary English Version). This is clear from the results it will cause when the people hear it. These results will be emotional and mental distress, and physical reactions of terror. Every heart will melt and every spirit will faint are figurative expressions for being full of fear and totally losing courage. For all hands will be feeble and all knees will be weak as water, see 7.17. Many languages have idioms that express extreme fear in terms of the reactions of bodily organs and, where appropriate, these may be used. Otherwise, nonfigurative language may be used, for example, “everyone will be very frightened.” Translators must choose expressions that show great fear.
Behold, it comes and it will be fulfilled: Once again, the attention-getting Hebrew particle hinneh rendered Behold provides emphasis for an important saying (see Ezek 21.3). It comes means the news will come soon, and it will be fulfilled means the events that the news describes will certainly happen. This whole sentence may be rendered “See, it will soon be time for the news to come, and when we get the news, it is going to happen.”
Says the Lord GOD is a solemn declaration or pronouncement that emphasizes the importance of God’s words here (see 5.11). Lord renders the Hebrew word ʾadonai, and GOD renders “Yahweh” (YHWH in Hebrew), the name of 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 .