Some Hebrew manuscripts and early versions, as well as many modern scholars, omit all or part of this verse because so much of it is the same as parts of verses 24 and 26. This is the reason for the very short verse in Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible. But it is not necessary to omit part of this verse. Many verses in this chapter repeat similar material from nearby verses, and it is easy to see how someone copying this verse could have accidentally left out parts of it, because the words are so similar to nearby words.

And there came a voice from above the firmament over their heads: The Hebrew word for voice can also mean “sound” (Good News Translation). It is the same word that is used five times in verse 24, where it is usually translated “sound.” Here it can be translated either way. It may have been a noise or a voice that Ezekiel could not hear before, because the noise of the creatures’ wings was so loud; for example, Good News Translation renders this clause as “there was still a sound coming from above the dome over their heads.” Or it may have been a sound or a voice that began only after the creatures had stopped and had folded their wings; for example, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “From above the expanse over their heads came a sound,” and New International Version has “Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads.” Those who understand this sound as a voice should keep in mind that it is not stated whose voice it was. Probably it was the voice of God or of an angel, but it would be better not to specify whose voice it was. If a language requires that the speaker be specified, it would be preferable to use a general word for sound or noise. In many languages it is not natural to say there came a voice or even “a sound came.” If so, translators may say “I heard a sound [or, voice]” or “I heard someone speaking.” The voice or sound came from above the firmament over their heads, that is, from above the platform over the creatures’ heads (see verse 22). This was where God was seated on his throne (see verses 26-28).

When they stood still, they let down their wings: This sentence may be simply repeated from the end of verse 24 (see the comments there). But it is better to tie it in more closely with the rest of this verse to explain why Ezekiel could now hear the voice or sound, as New International Version has done by saying “Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings.” It may be necessary to reorder the verse to make this clear as follows:

• After [or, As long as] they stood still and folded their wings, I could hear a voice [or, noise] from the platform above their heads.

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 .