Ezekiel 3:4-11
New American Standard Bible
4 Then He said to me, “Son of man, [a]go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For (A)you are not being sent to a people of [b](B)unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, 6 nor to many peoples of [c]unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. [d]But I have sent you to [e]the people who understand you; 7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are (C)not willing to listen to Me. The entire house of Israel certainly is [f]stubborn and obstinate. 8 Behold, I have made your face just as hard as their faces, and your forehead just as hard as their foreheads. 9 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 (D)words which I will speak to you and listen [g]closely. 11 [h]Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or [i]not, ‘This is what the Lord [j]God says.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 3:4 Lit go, come
- Ezekiel 3:5 Lit deep lip and heavy tongue
- Ezekiel 3:6 Lit deep lip and heavy tongue
- Ezekiel 3:6 Or I certainly have sent
- Ezekiel 3:6 Lit them, they understand
- Ezekiel 3:7 Lit of a hard forehead and hard of heart
- Ezekiel 3:10 Lit with your ears
- Ezekiel 3:11 Lit Go, come
- Ezekiel 3:11 Lit refrain
- Ezekiel 3:11 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
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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