Ezekiel’s Commission

Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; (A)eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I (B)opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and (C)fill your [a]body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I (D)ate it, and it was as sweet as (E)honey in my mouth.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, [b]go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For (F)you are not being sent to a people of [c](G)unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, nor to many peoples of [d]unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. [e]But I have sent you to [f]the people who understand you; yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are (H)not willing to listen to Me. The entire house of Israel certainly is [g]stubborn and obstinate. Behold, I have made your face just as hard as their faces, and your forehead just as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, since they are a rebellious house.” 10 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My (I)words which I will speak to you and listen [h]closely. 11 [i]Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or [j]not, ‘This is what the Lord [k]God says.’”

12 Then the (J)Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great (K)rumbling sound behind me: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place!” 13 And I heard the sound of the wings of the living beings touching one another and the sound of the (L)wheels beside them, even a great rumbling sound. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away; and I went embittered in the rage of my spirit, and (M)the hand of the Lord was strong on me. 15 Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the river Chebar at Tel-abib, and I sat there for (N)seven days where they were living, causing consternation among them.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 3:3 Lit inward parts
  2. Ezekiel 3:4 Lit go, come
  3. Ezekiel 3:5 Lit deep lip and heavy tongue
  4. Ezekiel 3:6 Lit deep lip and heavy tongue
  5. Ezekiel 3:6 Or I certainly have sent
  6. Ezekiel 3:6 Lit them, they understand
  7. Ezekiel 3:7 Lit of a hard forehead and hard of heart
  8. Ezekiel 3:10 Lit with your ears
  9. Ezekiel 3:11 Lit Go, come
  10. Ezekiel 3:11 Lit refrain
  11. Ezekiel 3:11 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord

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