See in Reader
Ezk 3:14 #44
Loading…
Reference in New Issue
No description provided.
Delete Branch "%!s(<nil>)"
Deleting a branch is permanent. Although the deleted branch may continue to exist for a short time before it actually gets removed, it CANNOT be undone in most cases. Continue?
ULB: \v 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit, for the hand of Yahweh was powerfully pressing on me!
Current tNs - I have highlighted the things I'm not sure about.
General Information:
Ezekiel seems to have been angry because Yahweh had sent him to speak to the Israelite exiles, thus rebelling against Yahweh himself. Though he was supposed to speak to them, he sat in silence for seven days, even though he could feel the anger of Yahweh "powerfully pressing on" him.
away, and I went with bitterness in my spirit's rage
The words "bitterness" and "rage" are types of anger. This can be stated as a separate sentence. Alternate translation: "away. I was bitter and my spirit was full of anger" or "away. I was very bitter and angry"
bitterness
Ezekiel speaks of his anger at Yahweh as if there were a bad taste in his mouth because Yahweh had forced him to eat something that tasted bad. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
for the hand of Yahweh was powerfully pressing on me
Ezekiel speaks of being sad and tired because Yahweh had commanded him to do things he did not want to do as if Yahweh were pushing him down into the ground. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the hand of Yahweh
Possible meanings are 1) the word "hand" is often used to refer to someone's power or action. Alternate translation: "the power of Yahweh" or 2) Ezekiel knew that Yahweh was angry with him because he was not obeying Yahweh by speaking to the Israelite exiles. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Commentaries seem to interpret the verse differently.
Benson Commentary:
I went in bitterness, &c. — I went in grief and anguish of mind, on account of the grievous things I was to declare to them, and the offence I foresaw I should give, and the opposition and ill treatment I should meet with. But the hand of the Lord was strong upon me — Urging and impelling, as well as empowering me to execute my commission.
Matthew Henry:
All this was to convince Ezekiel, that the God who sent him had power to bear him out in his work. He was overwhelmed with grief for the sins and miseries of his people, and overpowered by the glory of the vision he had seen. ...
Barnes' Notes on the Bible:
The heat of my spirit - Full of the righteous indignation, which God inspired, against the sin which he was to denounce.
But the hand - and "the hand." The Lord strengthened him for his mission.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me; the Spirit of the Lord powerfully wrought upon him, and obliged him to go; and the hand of the Lord strengthened him, and removed his frowardness and perverseness of spirit. The Targum is,
"and prophecy from before the Lord was strong upon me;''
so Kimchi interprets it of the hand of prophecy; the Spirit of the Lord, as a spirit of prophecy, came upon him, with great impulse upon his spirit, and he could not refuse going to his people, to declare it to them.
Geneva Study Bible (The tNs seem to fit with this.)
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I {e} went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
(e) This shows that there is always an infirmity of the flesh which can never be ready to render full obedience to God, and also God's grace who ever assists his, and overcomes their rebellious affections.
Since we don't know if Ezekiel was angry with the people or with God, perhaps the TNs don't need to address that and we could delete the General Note.
My suggested notes:
and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit
"and as I went, I felt bitter and my spirit was full of anger” or "and as I went, I was bitter and angry”
bitterness
Ezekiel speaks of his emotions as if there were a bad taste in his mouth. Possible meanings are 1) bitterness is a metaphor for sadness or 2) bitterness is a metaphor for anger. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
for the hand of Yahweh was powerfully pressing on me
The word "hand" is often used to refer to someone's power or actions. Possible meanings are 1) Ezekiel speaks of being sad and tired because of God commanding him to do things he did not want to do as if Yahweh were pushing him down into the ground, or 2) Ezekiel speaks of God being angry with him as if God were pushing him down in the ground, or 3) Ezekiel is saying that God was giving him great power. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor )
NOTE: The ULB is the only version I see that uses "powerfully pressing on me". It seems to force intepretations 1 or 2 above. A literal translation would simply be "the hand of Yahweh on me was strong/mighty," or a little less literal, "the hand of Yahweh was on me powerfully".
UDB is similar to ULB:
\v 14 The Spirit took me away. Within me I was very bitter and angry, and I felt unable to do anything, as though Yahweh were pushing down on me very powerfully.
I think the "for the hand" is also forcing interpretation 1, maybe 2.
The Hebrew just has a waw.
I think we should translate the waw as "and" or "but" or leave it untranslated. And, we should change to "the hand of Yahweh on me was strong" or "the strong hand of Yahweh was on me."
I agree with removing the GI note.
I like the notes you have written. I think the third notes is a little long, but if we change the ULB, it should shorten the note.
Shall I change the ULB to this?
\v 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit, and the strong hand of Yahweh was on me.
How would this be?
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
The word "hand" is often used to refer to someone's power or actions. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh was influencing Ezekiel in a powerful way, 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power to go prophesy to the people, or 3) Yahweh was forcing Ezekiel to go prophesy to the people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
It seems like meanings 1 and 3 are very similar, but I intended meaning 1 to be pretty general and may cover the idea of God causing Ezekiel to understand the people's sin and its consequences. That would be the reason that he would feel grieved and angry.
What about this:
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
The word “hand” is often used to refer to someone’s power or actions. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh was influencing Ezekiel to feel bitter and angry because of the people's sin, or 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power to go prophesy to the people.(See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I like that note except that mentioning the bitterness and anger in the explanation of this snippet might cause confusion since that's in the previous phrase. How about this?
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
The word “hand” is often used to refer to someone’s power or actions. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh was influencing Ezekiel to feel as he did about the people's sin, or 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power to go prophesy to the people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I wonder if we should also change the bold part of the UDB since it seems to be giving a different meaning
\v 14 The Spirit took me away. Within me I was very bitter and angry, and I felt unable to do anything, as though Yahweh were pushing down on me very powerfully.
to
and Yahweh's hand was on me powerfully.
and Yahweh was controlling me powerfully.
and Yahweh was giving me power.
Since I'm suggesting changes to tN, ULB, and UDB I think it would be good if all three of us look at this.
@drewcurley @JohnH
Is "influencing" okay? Or would be better served by saying "Yahweh made Ezekiel feel..."
"Yahweh made Ezekiel feel" is certainly simpler.
I'm struggling with the first possible meaning becasue it doesn't seem terribly obvious how the snippet, the explanation, and the AT all fit together. If "hand" is often used to refer to someone's power or actions, I would expect an Alternate Translation to be pretty general like "Yahweh was acting on me" or "Yahweh was influencing me." But "Yahweh made/influenced Ezekiel to feel..." seems to be talking more specifically about how Yahweh's hand was on Ezekiel at that time.
How about these?
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
The word “hand” is often used to refer to someone’s power or actions. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh was influencing Ezekiel, or 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
If needed, it can be stated explicitly how Yahweh's hand was on Ezekiel. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh made Ezekiel feel as he did about the people's sin, or 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power to go prophesy to the people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Also what do you think about the proposed changes to the ULB and UDB?
ULB
\v 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit, and the strong hand of Yahweh was on me.
UDB
\v 14 The Spirit took me away. Within me I was very bitter and angry,
I like
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
If needed, it can be stated explicitly how Yahweh’s hand was on Ezekiel. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh made Ezekiel feel as he did about the people’s sin, or 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
and
**
and Yahweh’s hand was on me powerfully.**
for the UDB
John, are you also ok with changing the UDB in addition to the ULB and TN?
Yes, these changes look good to me.
I made these changes
ULB:
\v 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit, and the strong hand of Yahweh was on me.
UDB
\v 14 The Spirit took me away. Within me I was very bitter and angry, and Yahweh's hand was on me powerfully.
TNs
General Info - Deleted
and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit
"and as I went, I felt bitter and my spirit was full of anger" or "and as I went, I was bitter and angry"
bitterness
Ezekiel speaks of his emotions as if there were a bad taste in his mouth. Possible meanings are 1) bitterness is a metaphor for sadness, or 2) bitterness is a metaphor for anger. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the strong hand of Yahweh was on me
The word "hand" is often used to refer to someone's power or actions. If needed, it can be stated explicitly how Yahweh's hand was on Ezekiel. Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh made Ezekiel feel as he did about the people's sin, or 2) Yahweh was giving Ezekiel power. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)