unfoldingWord_en_tn/ezk/44/12.md

# became stumbling blocks for sin for the house of Israel

A person who causes another person to sin is spoken of as if he were something on a path over which people stumble. Alternate translation: "became people who caused the house of Israel to sin" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# the house of Israel

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. See how you translated this in [Ezekiel 3:1](../03/01.md). Alternate translation: "the Israelites" or "the Israelite people group" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# I will lift up my hand to swear an oath

In those days a person would raise his right hand to show that he realized that God would punish him if he did not do what he swore to do. See how you translated these words in [Ezekiel 20:6](../20/06.md). Alternate translation: "I will solemnly swear" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])

# against them

"that I will punish them"

# this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration

Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Ezekiel 5:11](../05/11.md). Alternate translation: "this is what the Lord Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, have declared" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])

# they will bear their punishment

The abstract noun "punishment" can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "I will certainly punish them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])