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The Lord Speaks to Ezekiel

He said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; C used 93 times in the book to address the prophet; it means “human being” and stresses the frailty of humanity in contrast to the sovereignty of God], stand up on your feet so I may speak with you.” While he spoke to me, ·the Spirit [or a spirit; or a wind] entered me and put me on my feet. Then I heard ·the Lord [L him] speaking to me.

He said, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], I am sending you to the ·people [L sons; T children] of Israel, that nation of rebels who have ·turned [rebelled] against me. They and their ·ancestors [fathers] have ·sinned [revolted; transgressed] against me ·until [to] this very day. I am sending you to people who are ·stubborn [impudent] and ·who do not obey [stubborn; obstinate]. You will say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ They may listen, or they may not, since they are a ·people who have turned against me [L rebellious house]. But they will know that a prophet has been among them. You, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], don’t be afraid of ·the people [L them] or their words. Even though ·they may be like thorny branches and stickers [L briars and thorns are] all around you, and though you ·may feel like you live with stinging [L sit among; or dwell among] scorpions, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of their words or terrified by their looks, because they are a ·people who turn against me [L rebellious house]. But speak my words to them. They may listen, or they may not, because they ·turn against me [are rebellious]. But you, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], listen to what I say to you. Don’t ·turn against me [rebel] ·as those people do [L like that rebellious house]. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

Then I looked and ·saw [T behold] a hand stretched out to me, and a ·scroll [scroll with writing on it; L scroll of a document/book] was in it [Jer. 36:2; Rev. 10:2]. 10 He ·opened [unrolled] the scroll in front of me. Written on the front and back were ·funeral songs, sad writings, and warnings about disaster [L words of lament, mourning, and woe].

The Prophet’s Call

Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.” Then as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. And He said to me, “I am sending you, son of man, to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people [in both the north and the south] that have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have sinned and revolted against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [a]God.’ As for them, whether they listen or refuse [to listen]—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words; though briars and thorns are all around you and you sit among scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they will listen or refuse [to listen], for they are [most] rebellious.

“As for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out toward me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And He spread it before me, and it was written on the front and on the back, and written on it were [words of] lamentation (funeral songs) and mourning and woe.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord and so throughout.