Ezekiel 2:3

3 And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.

Ezekiel 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 2:3

And he said unto me, son of man
Now follow his mission and commission, and an account of the persons to whom he was sent: I send thee to the children of Israel;
that were captives in Babylon, in Jehoiakim's captivity; so Christ was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, ( Matthew 15:24 ) ; to a rebellious nation, that hath rebelled against me;
or, "rebellious Gentiles", ^F21; not the nations of the earth, though Ezekiel did prophesy many things concerning them; but the Jews, the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin; or the twelve tribes of Israel, called Gentiles, because they joined with them in their idolatries; and, as Kimchi says, were divided in their evil works; some worshipping the gods of the Ammonites; and some the gods of the Moabites; and all guilty of rebellion and treason in so doing against the God of heaven: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, [even] unto this
very day;
which is an aggravation of their rebellion; their fathers had sinned, and they had followed their ill examples, and had continued therein to that day; and as they, did to the times of Christ, when they were about to till up the measure of their iniquity, ( Matthew 23:31 Matthew 23:32 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (Mydrwmh Mywg la) "ad gentes, rebelles", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Starckius.

Ezekiel 2:3 In-Context

1 This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, and I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spoke, and he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee.

2 And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me,

3 And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.

4 And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God:

5 If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath been a prophet in the midst of them.