Ezekiel 3:22-27

Listen to Ezekiel 3:22-27
22 1And the hand of the Lord was upon me there. And he said to me, ā€œArise, go out into 2the valley, [a] and 3there I will speak with you. ā€
23 So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, 4the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I had seen 5by the Chebar canal, 6and I fell on my face.
24 7But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, ā€œGo, shut yourself within your house.
25 And you, O son of man, behold, 8cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people.
26 And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that 9you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, 10for they are a rebellious house.
27 11But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 12ā€˜Thus says the Lord God. ’ 13He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 3:22-27 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.

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Cross References 13

  • 1. 3:22 See ch. 1:3
  • 2. 3:22 ch. 8:4; 37:1; Gen. 11:2
  • 3. 3:22 [Acts 9:6; 22:10]
  • 4. 3:23 See ch. 1:28
  • 5. 3:23 See ch. 1:1
  • 6. 3:23 See ch. 1:28
  • 7. 3:24 See ch. 2:2
  • 8. 3:25 ch. 4:8
  • 9. 3:26 [Isa. 8:16]
  • 10. 3:26 [ch. 2:3]
  • 11. 3:27 [ch. 24:27; 29:21]
  • 12. 3:27 ver. 11
  • 13. 3:27 [Rev. 22:11]

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 3:22 Or 'plain'; also verse 23
The Holy Bible, English Standard VersionĀ® (ESVĀ®) Ā© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025