Verses 10-11 form a new paragraph in which God instructs Ezekiel to tell the people about the vision of the Temple he has seen.

And you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple and its appearance and plan: For son of man, see Ezek 43.7. The temple is literally “the house” (King James Version), so the Hebrew text has a play on the word for “house” here. However, most languages will not be able to reflect this wordplay, because the house of Israel refers to “the people of Israel” (Good News Translation; see Ezek 43.7), and “the house” is usually translated the temple. Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint instead of the Hebrew text by saying and its appearance and plan. English Standard Version changes the Hebrew text slightly to read “and they shall measure the plan” (similarly Hebrew Old Testament Text Project), which occurs at the end of this verse. This changed clause could be a command, similar to the command at the beginning of verse 9, so New American Standard Bible says “and let them measure the plan.” It is not clear why God commanded them to measure the plan. Perhaps it was really a command to “study” (Good News Translation) or “think [carefully] about” (Contemporary English Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version) the dimensions of the promised Temple, or perhaps to “draw up” (Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible) a plan from Ezekiel’s description. The Hebrew actually reads “and they will measure the perfection” (compare 28.12, where the same word for “perfection” is used). This reading makes excellent sense as a command to study or think about the perfection of the new Temple’s design so that the people will recognize the hand of God in it. It may be rendered “and let them think carefully about how really good it is.”

That they may be ashamed of their iniquities: In Hebrew this purpose clause follows immediately after the instruction to tell the people about the new Temple. God gives no reason why hearing about the Temple should make the people ashamed, but presumably it was due to the fact that God allowed the previous Temple to be destroyed because of the sins of the nation, and this new Temple was a sign of God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. Reflecting on the perfection of the new Temple would also contribute to making the people ashamed of their sins. For the Hebrew word rendered iniquities, see the comments on 3.19. It may be translated “sins” (New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version) or “sinful actions” (Good News Translation).

A model for this verse is:

• “And you, human, describe the Temple for the people of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of the sins they have committed. Let them think carefully about how perfect the Temple is.

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 .