Verses 25-28 are based on the prophecy of Zeph 3.3-4 in which the prophet Zephaniah criticized the political leaders, judges, prophets and priests of Jerusalem.
Her princes in the midst of her are like a roaring lion tearing the prey: Most translations apply this verse to the political leaders of Israel (for example, “princes” in Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible; “leaders” in Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Moffatt, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch; “rulers” in Bible en français courant), who are compared to roaring lions, as in Zeph 3.3. But as the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation show, the Hebrew reads “A conspiracy of her prophets” (similarly King James Version / New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project) instead of Her princes. These were probably all the false prophets that were active in the country at the time. It is difficult to decide which reading is best. Princes fits the context well—the crimes they are charged with are more appropriate for political leaders than prophets—and the comparison with lions is consistent with both the Zephaniah prophecy and what Ezekiel says about the princes of Israel in chapter 19. But there are no Hebrew manuscripts that support the change. In view of this uncertainty, translators may choose either reading, that is, either “Her gang of prophets” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “Her leaders.” New International Version says “a conspiracy of her princes” (similarly New Living Translation, New Century Version), which follows a third alternative that involves only a slight change to one Hebrew letter. This also is an acceptable solution.
“A conspiracy of her princes [or, prophets]” is an unusual phrase. It probably refers to the way the leaders (or prophets) were banding together and planning to do things that would benefit their own group. The Hebrew word for “conspiracy” also has the idea of treason, that is, what these men were doing was selfish and against the interests of the country as a whole. It may be easier to render the noun “conspiracy” as a verb; for example, New Century Version says “Israel’s rulers make evil plans.” God says these leaders (or prophets) are like a roaring lion tearing the prey, that is, a lion that is roaring to keep other animals away while it is eating the animal it has just caught and killed. If it sounds better in their language, translators may use the plural “lions” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). In cultures where lions are unknown, it is best to refer to them as “fierce wild animals, called lions” (see the comments on 1.10).
They have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her: One point of comparison between these leaders (or prophets) and lions is that they both are killers. Two of the things that God mentions involve killing: they have devoured human lives and they have made many widows. Although the verb devoured involves the picture of eating (so New Jerusalem Bible), here it just means they “kill the people” (Good News Translation). Widows are women whose husbands have died. A second point of comparison between these leaders (or prophets) and lions is that they both do not give up their prey. They have taken treasure and precious things means the leaders (or prophets) have enriched themselves through the murders they have committed. The text does not specify what the treasure and precious things are, and it is best if translators use appropriate general terminology for them; for example, Contemporary English Version says “everything of value,” and Revised English Bible has “wealth and valuables.” The pronoun her in the phrase in the midst of her probably refers to the land of Israel.
A model for this verse is:
• Israel’s prophets [or, leaders] make evil plans. Like a lion roaring as it tears apart its prey [or, the animal it has killed], they have killed people and have taken their money and valuable things. They have made many women in the land become widows.
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 .