Ezekiel 2:3-5

3 Then He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have 1rebelled against Me; 2they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.
4 "I am sending you to them who are 3stubborn * and obstinate * children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'
5 "As for them, 4whether they listen or not-for they are a rebellious house -they will 5know that a prophet has been among them.

Ezekiel 2:3-5 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 5

  • 1. 1 Samuel 8:7, 8; Jeremiah 3:25
  • 2. Ezekiel 20:18, 30
  • 3. Psalms 95:8; Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 5:3; Jeremiah 6:15; Ezekiel 3:7
  • 4. Ezekiel 2:7; Ezekiel 3:11, 27; Matthew 10:12-15; Acts 13:46
  • 5. Ezekiel 33:33; Luke 10:10, 11; John 15:22

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit "the sons, stiff-faced and hard-hearted"
  • [b]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
  • [c]. Lit "forbear"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.