Ezekiel 3:9

9 Like ¹emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. ²Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house."

Ezekiel 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 3:9

As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead
Or, "than a rock" ^F15; the "adamant" has its name in Greek, because it cannot be conquered or subdued, neither by the hammer, nor by fire; the one cannot break, nor this other consume it; land it is called "shamir" in Hebrew, from its preserving itself from both; it will cut iron in pieces, which is harder than stone, and therefore must be harder than that. Bochart takes it to be the same with "smiris", a hard stone, which jewellers use to polish their gems with; see ( Jeremiah 17:1 ) ( Zechariah 7:12 ) . The design of the simile is to set forth the courage and fortitude of mind the prophet was endowed with, in order to face an impudent and hardhearted people; fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they [be] a
rebellious house; (See Gill on Ezekiel 2:6).

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (rwum) "rupe", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Piscator; "prae rupe", Cocceius; "ex rupe", Starckius; "prae petra", Montanus.

Ezekiel 3:9 In-Context

7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.

8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.

9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house."

10 Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.

11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,'whether they hear or refuse to hear."

Cross References

• 1. [Isaiah 50:7]
• 2. Ezekiel 2:6