40:1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city 1 was struck down, on this very day, 2 the hand 3 of the Lord was on me, and he brought me there. 4 40:2 By means of divine visions 5 he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, 6 and on it was a structure like a city, to the south. 40:3 When he brought me there, I saw 7 a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand. He was standing in the gateway. 40:4 The man said to me, “Son of man, watch closely, listen carefully, and pay attention 8 to everything I show you, for you have been brought here so that I can show it to you. 9 Tell the house of Israel everything you see.”
1 sn That is, Jerusalem.
2 tn April 19, 573
3 tn Or “power.”
4 sn That is, to the land of Israel (see v. 2).
5 tn The expression introduces the three major visions of Ezekiel (1:1; 8:3; 40:2).
6 tn The reference to a very high mountain is harmonious with Isa 2:2.
7 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
8 tn Heb “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and set your mind on.”
9 tn Heb “in order to show (it) to you.”