This shall be for the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok: The demonstrative pronoun This refers to the priests’ land described in verse 10. The consecrated priests means they are holy, “set apart” (New International Reader’s Version) for God. Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint by saying the consecrated priests, and many other translations do likewise (for example, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, King James Version / New King James Version). However, the Hebrew text seems to refer to their portion of land as consecrated, not the priests. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh follows the Hebrew by beginning this verse with “This consecrated area shall be for the priests” (similarly Contemporary English Version, Complete Jewish Bible). Both interpretations are possible, and we recommend that translators choose the one that makes better sense to them (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project). The priests are the sons of Zadok, that is, “the descendants of Zadok” (New Living Translation, New Century Version) or “the family line of Zadok” (New International Reader’s Version). Zadok was a High Priest in the time of King David (see the comments on 40.45-46).

Who kept my charge means these priests served God faithfully. Complete Jewish Bible says “remained faithful to my commission.”

Who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did: They did not turn their backs on God when the Levites and the other people of Israel sinned and left God to worship idols (see the comments on 44.10). For a description of how the Levites turned away from God, see 44.9-13.

Good News Translation provides the following helpful model for this verse:

• This holy area [or, This area that is for my use] is to be for the priests who are descendants of Zadok. They served me faithfully and did not join the rest of the Israelites in doing wrong, as the other members of the tribe of Levi did.

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 .