Ezekiel 2:1-6

Ezekiel’s commissioning

1 The voice said to me: Human one, stand on your feet, and I'll speak to you.
2 As he spoke to me, a wind came to me and stood me on my feet, and I heard someone addressing me.
3 He said to me: Human one, I'm sending you to the Israelites, a traitorous and rebellious people. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day.
4 I'm sending you to their hardheaded and hard-hearted descendants, and you will say to them: The LORD God proclaims.
5 Whether they listen or whether they refuse, since they are a household of rebels, they will know that a prophet has been among them.
6 And as for you, human one, don't be afraid of them or their words. Don't be afraid! You possess thistles and thorns that subdue scorpions. Don't be afraid of their words or shrink from their presence, because they are a household of rebels.

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.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or spirit
  • [b]. Or thistles and thorns are with you, and you sit on scorpions.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible