# Son of man, is the house of Israel, that rebellious house, not asking, 'What are you doing?'

God asks this rhetorical question to remind Ezekiel of something he already knew—that the people had asked him this question. Alternate translation: "Son of man, the house of Israel, that rebellious house, is asking, 'What are you doing?'" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]])

# the house of Israel, that rebellious house

The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. Translate "rebellious house" as in [Ezekiel 2:5](../02/05.md). Alternate translation: "the people of Israel, that rebellious people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# What are you doing

Since the people had seen what Ezekiel was doing, their question implies their desire to know the reason why he was doing it. Alternate translation: "What is the meaning of the things you are doing" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])

