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]])
This rhetorical question functions as a command. AT. "Son of man, go and judge. Go and judge the city of blood." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
"son of a human being" or "son of humanity." God calls Ezekiel this to emphasize that Ezekiel is only a human being. God is eternal and powerful, but humans are not. See how you translated this in [Ezekiel 2:1](../02/01.md). AT: "mortal person" or "human"
# the city of blood
The word "blood" is a metonym for murder. AT: "the city where many people murder their neighbors" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
# her ... herself
The word "her" refers to Jerusalem. Cities were often thought of as a woman. This continues through verse 32. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]).
# This is a city that pours ... her midst
Here the "city" represents the people who live there. AT: "The people who live in this city pour ... its midst" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
# that pours out blood in her midst
The word "blood" is a metonym for murder. AT: "where many people murder their neighbors" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# so that her time may come
This refers to the time when Yahweh will destroy them. AT: "so that the time of her destruction may come" or "so that the time may come for her to be destroyed" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
A person who God considers spiritually unacceptable or defiled is spoken of as if the person were physically unclean. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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