Ezekiel 2:1-7

Ezekiel's Call

1 And he said to me, 1"Son of man,[a]2stand on your feet, and I will speak with you."
2 And as he spoke to me, 3the Spirit entered into me and 4set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
3 And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to 5nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. 6They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
4 The descendants also are 7impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'
5 And 8whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are 9a rebellious house) 10they will know that a prophet has been among them.
6 And you, son of man, 11be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, 12though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on 13scorpions.[b] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
7 And you shall speak my words to them, 14whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 2:1-7 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 14

  • 1. Ezekiel 3:1, 3, 4, 17, 25; Ezekiel 4:1, 16; Ezekiel 5:1
  • 2. Daniel 10:11
  • 3. Ezekiel 3:24
  • 4. Ezekiel 3:24; Daniel 8:18
  • 5. [ver. 5, 6, 8; Ezekiel 3:26; Ezekiel 24:3; Ezekiel 44:6]
  • 6. Ezekiel 20:16, 18, 21
  • 7. [Ezekiel 3:7]
  • 8. Ezekiel 3:11; [Ezekiel 3:27; Ezekiel 17:12]
  • 9. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 10. Ezekiel 33:33
  • 11. Ezekiel 3:9; Jeremiah 1:8
  • 12. [Ezekiel 28:24; 2 Samuel 23:6; Micah 7:4]
  • 13. [Deuteronomy 8:15]
  • 14. [See ver. 5 above]

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or Son of Adam; so throughout Ezekiel
  • [b]. Or on scorpion plants
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.