Ezekiel 3:1-6

Ezekiel's Commission

1 Then He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; 1eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."
2 So I 2opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll.
3 He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and 3fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I 4ate it, and it was sweet as 5honey in my mouth.
4 Then He said to me, "Son of man, go * to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.
5 "For 6you are not being sent to a people of 7unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel,
6 nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you;

Ezekiel 3:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 3

This chapter contains a further account of the prophet's call and mission; of his preparation of him for is work; of, the persons to whom he was sent; of what happened to him upon this; of the nature of his office, and the work of it; and of what followed upon the renewal of his call. His further preparation for prophesying is in Eze 3:1-3; where he is bid to eat the roll showed him, which he did, and found it in his mouth as honey for sweetness; and then he receives fresh orders to go to the people of Israel, and prophesy to them, Eze 3:4; and, that he might not be discouraged, an account is given beforehand of the people to whom he was sent; of their language, behaviour, and disposition; by which he could not expect success, Eze 3:5-7; and, for his further encouragement, strength, boldness, resolution, firmness, and presence of mind, are promised him, Eze 3:8,9; also a revelation of mere things to him; all which he should hear, receive, and speak, whether the people would attend to them or not; which ought to be no discouragement to him, since it was not regarded by the Lord, Eze 3:10,11; then follows an account of his being lifted up by the Spirit from the earth, when he heard a voice, which is described by the manner and matter of it; and a noise, both of the living creature's wings, and of the wheels he had seen in a former vision, Eze 3:12,13; and next of his being carried away by the same Spirit; and of the condition he was in, in his own spirit, as he went; and of the strength he received from the Lord; and of the place to which he, was carried; and his state and circumstances, and time of continuance there, Eze 3:14,15; where, after a time mentioned, he has a fresh call to his office, under the character of a watchman, whose business was to hear Christ's words, and warn the house of Israel from him; and who are distinguished into wicked and righteous; and whom the prophet was to warn at his own peril, Eze 3:16-21; and the chapter is concluded with a narration of various events which befell the prophet; he is bid by the Lord to go into the plain, which he did, and there saw the glory of the Lord, as he had before seen it at the river Chebar; which so affected him, that he fell upon his face, Eze 3:22,23; the spirit entered into him, let him on his feet, and spake with him; ordered him what he should do himself, that he should shut himself up in his house, Eze 3:24; informed him what the people would do to him; bind him with bands, that he should not come forth, Eze 3:25; and what Christ would do to him; strike him dumb in judgment to the people, that he might not be a reprover of them, Eze 3:26; but he is told that, when the Lord spoke to him; his mouth should be opened, and he should declare what was said to him, Eze 3:27.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Ezekiel 2:9
  • 2. Jeremiah 25:17
  • 3. Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 20:9
  • 4. Jeremiah 15:16
  • 5. Psalms 19:10; Psalms 119:103; Revelation 10:9, 10
  • 6. Jonah 1:2; Acts 14:11; Acts 26:17
  • 7. Isaiah 28:11; Isaiah 33:19

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Lit "inward parts"
  • [b]. Lit "go, come"
  • [c]. Lit "deepness of lip and heaviness of tongue"
  • [d]. Lit "deepness of lip and heaviness of tongue"
  • [e]. Or "If I had sent you to them, they would listen to you"
  • [f]. Lit "they"
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