Ezekiel 2:1-6

The Prophet's Call

1 Then He said to me, "Son of man, ¹stand on your feet that I may speak with you!"

2 As He spoke to me the ²Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.

3 Then He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have ³rebelled against Me; ⁴they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

4 "I am sending you to them who are ⁵stubborn * and obstinate * children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'

5 "As for them, ⁶whether they listen or not-for they are a rebellious house -they will ⁷know that a prophet has been among them.

6 "And you, son of man, ⁸neither fear them nor fear their words, though ⁹thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 2:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 2

This chapter contains me prophet's call, commission, and instruction to prophesy. The preparation to it is in Eze 2:1,2; being fallen upon his face, he is bid to stand upon his feet, with a promise to speak to him; and the Spirit entering into him, he is set by him on his feet, and he hears what is spoken to him; then follows his mission to the children of Israel, who are described as rebellious, impudent, and stiff-hearted; and to whom he is sent, to render them inexcusable, Eze 2:3-5; and he is exhorted not to be afraid of their words, nor dismayed at their looks, however fierce and furious they might be; but faithfully declare his message, and not be discouraged, should it be without success, Eze 2:6,7; and he is instructed not to be rebellious, as they were; but open his mouth and eat what should be given him, Eze 2:8; when, in a visionary way, a hand was seen, and a roll in it, and this spread before him, written within and without, full of lamentation, mourning, and woes, as a symbol of the substance of his prophecy, Eze 2:9,10.

Cross References

• 1. Daniel 10:11; Acts 9:6
• 2. Ezekiel 3:24; Daniel 8:18
• 3. 1 Samuel 8:7, 8; Jeremiah 3:25
• 4. Ezekiel 20:18, 30
• 5. Psalms 95:8; Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 5:3; Jeremiah 6:15; Ezekiel 3:7
• 6. Ezekiel 2:7; Ezekiel 3:11, 27; Matthew 10:12-15; Acts 13:46
• 7. Ezekiel 33:33; Luke 10:10, 11; John 15:22
• 8. Isaiah 51:12; Jeremiah 1:8, 17; Ezekiel 3:9
• 9. 2 Samuel 23:6, 7; Ezekiel 28:24; Micah 7:4

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "the sons, stiff-faced and hard-hearted"
• [b] Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
• [c] Lit "forbear"