The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery …: God adds a fifth group of sinners (which is not in Zephaniah), namely, The people of the land. This phrase may refer to the people who lived in the country, or simply to the “common people” (New Living Translation), in contrast to the four groups of leaders previously mentioned. Even these people were wicked. They practiced extortion and committed robbery, that is, they cheated and robbed people (see the comments on 18.18). Contemporary English Version says “The people themselves cheat and rob” (similarly Good News Translation).

They have oppressed the poor and needy means they took advantage of people who did not have enough to live on (see the comments on 18.12). Good News Translation says simply “They mistreat the poor.”

And have extorted from the sojourner without redress means they also took advantage of foreigners living in Israel, who had no way of getting justice (compare verse 7). New International Version says “and mistreat the alien, denying them justice,” and New Century Version has “They cheat foreigners and do not treat them fairly.”

A model for this verse is:

• The people of Israel have cheated and robbed others. They have abused those who are poor and do not have enough to live on, and they have taken advantage of foreigners living in their land, who have no way of getting justice.

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 .