And they come to you as people come is literally “And they come to you like the coming of people.” It is not clear what this clause in Hebrew means. Zimmerli suggests that the people “come running, as people have come running through the ages whenever something sensational is to be seen.” Others think it refers to their coming “in crowds” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or they come as if they are going to a public meeting (compare Christian Community Bible “They go to you, as they go to an assembly”). These suggestions are probably close to the meaning of the Hebrew text, and translators may choose the one that makes most sense to them. This clause may be rendered “They come to you the way people do when they gather together” or “They come to you in groups.”

And they sit before you as my people: The people sit in front of Ezekiel, as did the leaders in 14.1 and 20.1 (see the comments there). Perhaps they sit in a half-circle around him (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Some scholars suggest that the Hebrew word rendered as my people is ironical, so New Century Version renders this clause as “They sit in front of you as if they were my people.” However, this word could simply be the delayed subject of the clause, so New Jerusalem Bible says “my people sit down in front of you.”

And they hear what you say but they will not do it: Although the people are keen to gather together to listen to what Ezekiel has to say, they don’t obey him and do what he tells them to. New Living Translation renders this sentence as “They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say.”

For with their lips they show much love: This clause in Hebrew may refer to the insincere claims of people who say one thing and do another; for example, New International Reader’s Version says “With their mouths they claim to be faithful to me” (similarly Contemporary English Version), and New Century Version has “With their mouths they tell me they love me.” According to this interpretation, the Hebrew word for much love has a positive sense. However, this word usually has the sense of strong sexual desire (see 23.11, where it is rendered “doting”), and some translations take it with this negative sense; for example, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders this clause as “For they produce nothing but lust with their mouths,” English Standard Version says “for with lustful talk in their mouths they act,” and New American Standard Bible has “for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth.” Translators who follow this interpretation may say “because what they talk about are things of sexual desire.” When they gather to hear Ezekiel, they do not even pretend that they are going to obey his words. The Septuagint changes the Hebrew word for much love to “lies.” New American Bible follows this reading by saying “for lies are on their lips,” and so does Moffatt with “their lips are full of lies” (similarly Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, Christian Community Bible). We recommend the second interpretation of the Hebrew here because of the context (see next verse).

But their heart is set on their gain: The connector but is not in the Hebrew and only fits with the first interpretation above. For our preferred interpretation, no connector is needed (see model below). In Hebrew the heart is the organ with which a person thinks and makes decisions; it is not just a person’s emotional center (see the comments on 3.7), so their heart is set on their gain means the people are wholly devoted to making their selfish gain. The Hebrew word for gain refers to money obtained dishonestly by cheating people (see 22.13, where it is rendered “dishonest gain”). Contemporary English Version provides a good model for this clause, saying “they are forever trying to cheat others out of their money” (similarly New International Reader’s Version).

A model for this verse is:

• And my people come to you in crowds [or, as to a public meeting] and sit in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do what you tell them, because their mouths are full of lustful (or, erotic) talk that controls what they do; [and] they are only interested in getting money by cheating [others].

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 .