Ezekiel 3:4-11
International Standard Version
4 Then he told me, “Son of Man, go to the house of Israel and tell them what I have to say to them, 5 because you’re not going to a people whose speech you cannot understand or whose language is difficult to speak. Instead, you’re going to the house of Israel. 6 This isn’t a large group of people whose speech is unintelligible to you or whose language is difficult for you to comprehend. Frankly, if I had sent you to that kind of people,[a] they would certainly have listened to you! 7 But the house of Israel won’t listen to you, since they weren’t willing to listen to me. That’s because the entire house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. 8 So pay attention! I’m going to make you just as obstinate[b] and unyielding as they are.[c] 9 I’m making you harder than flint—like diamond! So you are not to fear them or be intimidated by how they look at you,[d] since they’re a rebellious group.”
Ezekiel is Commissioned to Speak
10 Next, he told me, “Son of Man, take to heart every word that I’m telling you. Listen carefully, 11 then go immediately[e] to the exiles; that is, to your people’s descendants, and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says…’ whether they listen or not.”[f]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 3:6 Lit. to them
- Ezekiel 3:8 Lit. I’m making your face hard against their faces
- Ezekiel 3:8 Lit. and your forehead as hard as their foreheads
- Ezekiel 3:9 The Heb. lacks at you
- Ezekiel 3:11 Lit. walk and go
- Ezekiel 3:11 Lit. or fail
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