Yechezkel 2:4

4 For they are stubborn banim and chizkei lev (stiffhearted). I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem.

Yechezkel 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 2:4

For [they are] impudent children
"Hard of face" ^F23; as is commonly said of impudent persons, that they are brasen faced; they had a whore's forehead, and refused to be ashamed, and made their faces harder than a rock, ( Jeremiah 3:3 ) ( 5:3 ) ; they declared their sin as Sodam, and hid it not; they sinned openly, and could not blush at it: and stiffhearted;
or, "strong of heart" ^F24; whose hearts were like an adamant stone, and harder than the nether millstone; impenitent, obdurate, and inflexible; they were not only stiff-necked, as Stephen says they were in his time, and always had been; but stiff-hearted; they were not subject to the law of God now, nor would they submit to the Gospel and ordinances of Christ in his time, and in the times of his apostles, nor to his righteousness, ( Romans 10:3 ) ; I do send thee unto them;
even to such as they are: this is a repetition, and a confirmation, of his mission; and suggests, that though they were such, he should not refuse to go to them, since he had sent him: and thou shalt say unto them, thus saith the Lord God:
that what he said came from the Lord, and was spoken in his name.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (Mynp yvq) "duri facie", Pagninus, Vatablus, Calvin, Cocceius, Starckius.
F24 (bl yqzx) "duri corde", Pagninus, Montanus; "fortes carde", Vatablus, Polanus.

Yechezkel 2:4 In-Context

2 And the Ruach [Hakodesh] entered into me just as He spoke unto me, and stood me upon my raglayim, that I heard Him that spoke unto me.

3 And He said unto me, Ben Adam, I send thee to the Bnei Yisroel, to Goyim HaMoredim (Rebellious Nations [Tribes]) that hath rebelled against Me; they and their Avot have rebelled against Me, even unto this very day.

4 For they are stubborn banim and chizkei lev (stiffhearted). I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem.

5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will refrain from heeding— for they are a bais meri (house of rebellion), yet shall they know that there hath been a navi among them.

6 And thou, Ben Adam, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their devarim, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among akrabim (scorpions); be not afraid of their devarim, nor be afraid at their looks, for they are a bais meri.