translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: EZK

label: NET translator note

text: For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: Heb “in water you were not washed for cleansing” or “with water you were not washed smooth” (see D. I. Block, Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:473, n. 57, for a discussion of possible meanings of this hapax legomenon ).


label: NET textual note

text: The translation reflects the Hebrew text, which repeats the statement, perhaps for emphasis. However, a few medieval Hebrew manuscripts, the Old Greek, and the Syriac do not include the repetition. The statement could have been accidentally repeated or the second occurrence could have been accidentally omitted. Based on the available evidence it is difficult to know which is more likely.


text: The word הִנֵּה ( hinneh , traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a participle.


text: See similar use of this term in Ezek 23:17 ; Prov 7:16 ; Song of Songs 4:10; 7:13 .


text: Heb “wing” or “skirt.” The gesture symbolized acquiring a woman in early Arabia (similarly, see Deut 22:30 ; Ruth 3:9 ).


text: Heb “name.”


text: Heb “it” (so KJV, ASV); the referent (the beauty in which the prostitute trusted, see the beginning of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The text as written in the MT is incomprehensible (“not coming [plural] and he will not”). Driver has suggested a copying error of similar-sounding words, specifically לֹא ( lo ’) for לוֹ ( lo ). The feminine participle בָאוֹת ( va ’ ot ) has also been read as the feminine perfect בָאת ( va ’ t ). See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 1:228, n. 15.b, and D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:486, n. 137.


text: Or perhaps “and worshiped them,” if the word “prostitution” is understood in a figurative rather than a literal sense (cf. CEV, NLT).


text: Heb “and you gave them, by passing them through to them.” Some believe this alludes to the pagan practice of making children pass through the fire.


text: The Hebrew גֶּב ( gev ) may represent more than one word, each rare in the Old Testament. It may refer to a “mound” or to “rafters.” The LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate interpret this as a brothel.


text: Or “lofty place” (NRSV). See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 1:229, and B. Lang, Frau Weisheit , 137.


text: Heb “treated as if abominable,” i.e., repudiated.


text: The only other occurrence of the Hebrew root is found in Prov 13:3 in reference to the talkative person who habitually “opens wide” his lips.


text: Heb “your neighbors, large of flesh.” The word “flesh” is used here of the genitals. It may simply refer to the size of their genitals in general, or, as the translation suggests, depicts them as sexually aroused.


text: Heb “Chaldea.” The name of the tribal group ruling Babylon (“Chaldeans”) and the territory from which they originated (“Chaldea”) is used as metonymy for the whole empire of Babylon.


text: The Hebrew term, which also occurs in vv. 34 and 41 of this chapter, always refers to the payment of a prostitute ( Deut 23:19 ; Isa 23:17 ; Hos 9:1 ; Mic 1:7 ).


text: The Hebrew word occurs only here in the OT.


text: Heb “With you it was opposite of women in your prostitution.”


text: Heb “and I will judge you (with) the judgments of adulteresses and of those who shed blood.”


text: Heb “and I will give you the blood of rage and zeal.”


text: The words “to your clients” are not in the Hebrew text but are implied.


text: Heb “your way on (your) head I have placed.”


text: Heb “left.”


text: Heb “right.”


text: Heb “walked in their ways.”


text: The Hebrew expression has a temporal meaning as illustrated by the use of the phrase in 2 Chr 12:7 .


text: Or “guilt.”


text: Heb “strengthen the hand of.”


text: Or “you have multiplied your abominable deeds beyond them.”


text: Heb “because you have interceded for your sisters with your sins.”


text: Or “pride.”


text: So MT, LXX, and Vulgate; many Hebrew mss and Syriac read “Edom.”


text: Or “eternal.”


text: Heb “and your mouth will not be open any longer.”


text: Heb “when I make atonement for you for all which you have done.”