# the word of Yahweh came

This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in [Ezekiel 3:16](../03/16.md). AT: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# 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. AT: "Son of man, the house of Israel, that rebellious house, is asking, 'What are you doing?'" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/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](../02/04.md). AT: "the people of Israel, that rebellious people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/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. AT: "What is the meaning of the things you are doing" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# in whose midst they are

The phrase "in whose midst" refers to Jerusalem, while "they" refers to the "house of Israel." AT: "who are in Jerusalem" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/wordofgod]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sonofman]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/house]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/israel]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/rebel]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lordyahweh]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/prince]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/jerusalem]]