Ezekiel 3:8

8 ecce dedi faciem tuam valentiorem faciebus eorum et frontem tuam duriorem frontibus eorum

Ezekiel 3:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 3:8

Behold, I have made the, face strong against their faces
Not that the prophet should have the same sort of impudence and confidence they had; but that God would "give" F14 him such a face, as it is in the Hebrew text, such spirit and courage, that he should neither be ashamed of the words of the Lord, nor afraid to speak them to this people; so that he should be a match for them; they should not be able to outface him, or look him out of countenance; he should behave with an undaunted spirit, and with great intrepidity, amidst all opposition made to him: the Lord fits his ministers for the people he sends them to, and gives them courage and strength proportionate to the opposition they meet with; as their day is, their strength is; and all that invincible courage, boldness, and strength, with which they are endowed, it is all from the Lord, and a gift of his: and thy forehead strong against their foreheads;
which is the same thing in different words.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Kynp ta yttn) "dedi faciem tuam", V. L. Vatablus, Cocceius, Starckius.

Ezekiel 3:8 In-Context

6 neque ad populos multos profundi sermonis et ignotae linguae quorum non possis audire sermones et si ad illos mittereris ipsi audirent te
7 domus autem Israhel nolent audire te quia nolunt audire me omnis quippe domus Israhel adtrita fronte est et duro corde
8 ecce dedi faciem tuam valentiorem faciebus eorum et frontem tuam duriorem frontibus eorum
9 ut adamantem et ut silicem dedi faciem tuam ne timeas eos neque metuas a facie eorum quia domus exasperans est
10 et dixit ad me fili hominis omnes sermones meos quos loquor ad te adsume in corde tuo et auribus tuis audi
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.