Ezechiël 3:1-11

1 Daarna zeide Hij tot mij: Mensenkind, eet, wat gij vinden zult; eet deze rol, en ga, spreek tot het huis Israels.

2 Toen opende ik mijn mond, en Hij gaf mij die rol te eten.

3 En Hij zeide tot mij: Mensenkind, geef uw buik te eten, en vul uw ingewand met deze rol, die Ik u geef. Toen at ik, en het was in mijn mond als honig, vanwege de zoetigheid.

4 En Hij zeide tot mij: Mensenkind, ga henen, kom tot het huis Israels, en spreek tot hen met Mijn woorden.

5 Want gij zijt niet gezonden tot een volk, diep van spraak en zwaar van tong, maar tot het huis Israels;

6 Niet tot vele volken, diep van spraak en zwaar van tong, welker woorden gij niet kunt verstaan; zouden zij niet, zo Ik u tot hen gezonden had, naar u gehoord hebben?

7 Maar het huis Israels wil naar u niet horen, omdat zij naar Mij niet willen horen; want het ganse huis Israels is stijf van voorhoofd, en hard van hart zijn zij.

8 Ziet, Ik heb uw aangezicht stijf gemaakt tegen hun aangezichten, en uw voorhoofd stijf tegen hun voorhoofd.

9 Uw voorhoofd heb Ik gemaakt als een diamant, harder dan een rots; vrees hen niet, en ontzet u niet voor hun aangezichten, omdat zij een wederspannig huis zijn.

10 Verder zeide Hij tot mij: Mensenkind, vat al Mijn woorden, die Ik tot u spreken zal, in uw hart, en hoor ze met uw oren.

11 En ga henen, kom tot de weggevoerden, tot de kinderen uws volks, en spreek tot hen, en zeg tot hen: Zo zegt de Heere HEERE, hetzij dat zij horen zullen, of hetzij dat zij het laten zullen.

Ezechiël 3:1-11 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.