Ezekiel 2:6

6 You, human, don't be afraid of the people or their words. Even though they may be like thorny branches and stickers all around you, and though you may feel like you live with poisonous insects, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of their words or their looks, because they are a people who turn against me.

Ezekiel 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 2:6

And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them
Of any of them, the greatest among them, their princes and nobles; who, by their grandeur and authority, their stern looks, and big words, might awe and terrify him; wherefore it follows: neither be afraid of their words;
of their calumnies, revilings, and reproaches, their scoffs and jeers, their menaces and threatenings: though briers and thorns [be] with thee;
that is, men comparable to such; wicked men are like to briers and thorns, ( 2 Samuel 23:6 ) ( Isaiah 27:4 ) ; are grieving, pricking, and distressing to good men, and are of no worth and value; are useless and unprofitable, and fit fuel for everlasting burning. The Targum is,

``for they are rebellious, and hard against thee;''

so Jarchi and Kimchi explain the first word, (Mybro) , translated "briers", as signifying rebellious and disobedient; though the former observes, that R. Donesh interprets it of a kind of thorns, of which there are twenty names, and this is one: and thou dost dwell among scorpions;
that is, as the Targum paraphrases it,

``thou dwellest in the midst of a people whose works are like to scorpions.''

Some interpret it, as Kimchi observes, of sharp thorns, of a thorny plant that grows in the form of a scorpion ^F1; but scorpions here are a kind of serpents, subtle, venomous, and mischievous, which have stings in their tails; which, as Pliny says, they are continually thrusting out, and striking with, that they may lose no opportunity of doing hurt ^F2; and fitly describe wicked men their subtlety and mischievous nature, be not afraid of their words;
as before; with which they are like briers, thorns, and scorpions, being very grievous, defamatory, and mischievous: nor be dismayed at their looks:
their frowning furious, and angry countenances; forbidding with which, as well as with their words, the prophet from prophesying unto them: though,
or "for", they [be] a rebellious house; (See Gill on Ezekiel 2:5).

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 21. c. 15. and l. 22. c. 16.
F2 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 25.

Ezekiel 2:6 In-Context

4 I am sending you to people who are stubborn and who do not obey. You will say to them, 'This is what the Lord God says.'

5 They may listen, or they may not, since they are a people who have turned against me. But they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6 You, human, don't be afraid of the people or their words. Even though they may be like thorny branches and stickers all around you, and though you may feel like you live with poisonous insects, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of their words or their looks, because they are a people who turn against me.

7 But speak my words to them. They may listen, or they may not, because they turn against me.

8 But you, human, listen to what I say to you. Don't turn against me as those people do. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you."