Ezekiel 2:3-7
English Standard Version
3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to (A)nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. (B)They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are (C)impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 And (D)whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are (E)a rebellious house) (F)they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, (G)be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, (H)though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on (I)scorpions.[a] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, (J)whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
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- Ezekiel 2:6 Or on scorpion plants
Ezekiel 2:3-7
New English Translation
3 He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the house[a] of Israel, to rebellious nations[b] who have rebelled against me; both they and their fathers have revolted[c] against me to this very day. 4 The people[d] to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted,[e] and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’[f] 5 And as for them,[g] whether they listen[h] or not—for they are a rebellious[i] house[j]—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words. Even though briers[k] and thorns[l] surround you and you live among scorpions—do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you,[m] for they are a rebellious house! 7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.
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- Ezekiel 2:3 tc The Hebrew reads “sons of,” while the LXX reads “house,” implying the more common phrase in Ezekiel. Either could be abbreviated with the first letter ב (bet). In preparation for the characterization “house of rebellion,” in vv. 5, 6, and 8 “house” is preferred (L. C. Allen, Ezekiel [WBC], 1:10 and W. Zimmerli, Ezekiel [Hermeneia], 2:564-65).
- Ezekiel 2:3 tc Heb “to the rebellious nations.” The phrase “to the rebellious nations” is omitted in the LXX. Elsewhere in Ezekiel the singular word “nation” is used for Israel (36:13-15; 37:22). Here “nations” may have the meaning of “tribes” or refer to the two nations of Israel and Judah.
- Ezekiel 2:3 tc This word is omitted from the LXX. tn The Hebrew term used here is the strongest word available for expressing a covenant violation. The word is used in the diplomatic arena to express a treaty violation (2 Kgs 1:1; 3:5, 7).
- Ezekiel 2:4 tn Heb “sons.” The word choice may reflect treaty idiom, where the relationship between an overlord and his subjects can be described as that of father and son.
- Ezekiel 2:4 tc Heb “stern of face and hard of heart.” The phrases “stern of face” and “hard of heart” are lacking in the LXX.
- Ezekiel 2:4 tn The phrase “thus says [the Lord]” occurs 129 times in Ezekiel; the announcement is identical to the way messengers often introduced their messages (Gen 32:5; 45:9; Exod 5:10; Num 20:14; Judg 11:15).
- Ezekiel 2:5 tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.
- Ezekiel 2:5 tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.
- Ezekiel 2:5 tn This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:10 (17:25 HT) and Isa 30:9.
- Ezekiel 2:5 sn The book of Ezekiel frequently refers to the Israelites as a rebellious house (Ezek 2:5, 6, 8; 3:9, 26-27; 12:2-3, 9, 25; 17:12; 24:3).
- Ezekiel 2:6 tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.
- Ezekiel 2:6 tn The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24.sn Here thorns may be a figure for hostility (Ezek 28:24; Mic 7:4).
- Ezekiel 2:6 tn Heb “of their faces.”
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