Ezekiel 2:4

Translations

Modern

They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

Traditional

For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.

Literal

And the sons are hard of face and strong of heart; to them I am sending you, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH.’

Latin

…et filii dura facie et indomabili corde sunt, ad quos ego mitto te. Et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus:

Original

Hebrew

English

They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

Notes

Ezekiel 2:4–5

Israel was stubborn and hard-hearted (unwilling to listen and obey). They would not listen to Ezekiel. His message would not show results right away. However, they would later know that a prophet had been among them speaking God’s word.

Ezekiel 2:1–10

Being a prophet was not a career that someone chose. It was also not a role passed down from father to son, as the priesthood was.

God himself called prophets to their task. Because of this, many prophets included the story of their call in their writings (see, for example, Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1:4–19; Jonah 1:1–2).

Ezekiel 1:1–3:27

Old Testament prophetic books often begin with a “call narrative.” A call narrative describes how God chose and sent a prophet to serve in this role (for example, Jeremiah 1:4–19).

This account showed that the prophet’s message was legitimate. It made clear that the prophet spoke as the Lord’s ambassador (a representative sent with authority). The call narrative also introduced important themes that the book would explain more fully later.

In Ezekiel, the call narrative focuses on the Lord’s coming judgment on his people.

Theme notes and profiles

Ezekiel The Son of Man

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.
Psalm 95:8
…do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,
Jeremiah 6:15
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.
Isaiah 48:4
For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.
Jeremiah 5:3
O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
Jeremiah 3:3
Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.
Jeremiah 26:2–3
“This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word.
Proverbs 21:29
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
Acts 20:26–27
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
2 Chronicles 30:8
Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.
Deuteronomy 31:27
For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Prophet, Prophetess

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Character of the Unrenewed Heart: Stiff Character of the Wicked: Impudent Character of the Wicked: Stiff-Hearted Church: Backslidden Heart: The Unregenerate is Hard Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Nation: Chastised National Sins: Ministers should Testify Against Prophets: Inspiration of Rebellion Against God: Ministers: Sent to Those Guilty of Reproof: Ministers should Give: Fearlessly Titles and Names of the Wicked: Impudent Children

Ezekiel 2:4

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