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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. 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] 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. 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! You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

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Footnotes

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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).
  7. Ezekiel 2:5 tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.
  8. Ezekiel 2:5 tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.
  9. 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.
  10. 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).
  11. Ezekiel 2:6 tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.
  12. 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).
  13. Ezekiel 2:6 tn Heb “of their faces.”

He said to me: Human one, I’m sending you to the Israelites, a traitorous and rebellious people. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. I’m sending you to their hardheaded and hard-hearted descendants, and you will say to them: The Lord God proclaims. Whether they listen or whether they refuse, since they are a household of rebels, they will know that a prophet has been among them.

And as for you, human one, don’t be afraid of them or their words. Don’t be afraid! You possess thistles and thorns that subdue scorpions.[a] Don’t be afraid of their words or shrink from their presence, because they are a household of rebels. You’ll speak my words to them whether they listen or whether they refuse. They are just a household[b] of rebels!

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:6 Or thistles and thorns are with you, and you sit on scorpions.
  2. Ezekiel 2:7 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT lacks household.