Once again God addresses Ezekiel as Son of man (International Children’s Bible “Human being”).

Set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt: For set your face against, see the comments on 13.17. This phrase may be rendered “look toward” (New Century Version), “turn toward” (New Living Translation [1996]), or “face in the direction of.” In this context it probably implies an aggressive stance or stare. Pharaoh is used here as a proper name, although it is in fact a title for the king of Egypt (see the comments on 17.17). Some translations omit it because it means the same as king of Egypt (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version). This is acceptable if the term is not well known and understood. Otherwise, translators may say “Pharaoh, who is king of Egypt.”

And prophesy against him and against all Egypt means Ezekiel must give God’s message of warning to the Egyptian king and all his people (see 4.7). Some translations put together the ideas of set your face against and prophesy against (so Good News Translation with “denounce” and Contemporary English Version with “condemn”). However, if it is not awkward, translators should retain the two expressions; for example, a model of the whole verse that does this is:

• “Mortal man, look [or, turn] toward the king of Egypt and announce what I am saying against him and all his people.

As in the case of Tyre in chapter 28, this prophecy is addressed to the king and people of Egypt, but its message is for the people of Judah who were in exile with Ezekiel (see the introductory comments on 25.1–32.32). However, translators must retain the form, so that the message is addressed to the king and people of Egypt.

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 .