Ezekiel 2:1

Ezekiel’s Call

1 “Son of man, ^[a]” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

Ezekiel 2:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 2:1

And he said unto me
The glorious Person who sat upon the throne, whose appearance is described in the latter part of the preceding chapter: son of man;
as he was to be that spake unto him; and so it may denote relation, affection, and familiarity; or otherwise it is expressive of humiliation; of the frail, mean, and low estate of man, through the fall, ( Psalms 8:4 ) ; wherefore some think Ezekiel is thus addressed, lest he should be lifted up, and think himself as one of the angels, because he had seen so great a vision; just as the Apostle Paul was humbled, lest he should be exalted above measure, through the visions and revelations he had, ( 2 Corinthians 12:7 ) . Kimchi mentions this, but assigns another reason; that because he saw the face of a man in the above vision, he let him know that he was right and good in the eye of God; and was the son of man, and not the son of a lion which is exceeding weak and trifling. Abendana, besides these, mentions some other reasons given; as that because he saw the "mercavah" or chariot, and ascended to the dignity of the angels on high, it is as if it was said, there is none born of a woman, as this; or because he was carried out of the holy land, as Adam was drove out of Eden; and therefore called the son of the first Adam, being drove out of Jerusalem, and out of the temple, where he was a priest. It may be observed, that this is a name which our Lord frequently took to himself in his state of humiliation; and that none but Ezekiel, excepting once the Prophet Daniel, is called by this name; and no doubt the reason of it is, because he was an eminent type of Christ; and particularly in his mission and commission, as a prophet, to the rebellious house of Israel: stand upon thy feet;
for he was fallen upon his face, at the sight of the vision, ( Ezekiel 1:28 ) ; when a divine Person speaks, men ought to stand and hear, and be in a readiness to do his pleasure: and I will speak unto thee;
which is said for his encouragement, being spoken by him who has the words of truth and grace, and of eternal life.

Ezekiel 2:1 In-Context

1 “Son of man, ” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

2 And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me.

3 “Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me.

4 They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

5 And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Footnotes

• [a] Or Son of Adam; here and throughout Ezekiel