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Chapter 2

Eating of the Scroll. The voice said to me: Son of man,[a] stand up! I wish to speak to you. As he spoke to me, the spirit[b] entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking(A) say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.(B) Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God.(C) And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them.(D) But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions.[c] Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house.(E) You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious.(F) But you, son of man, hear me when I speak to you and do not rebel like this rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.(G)

(H)It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me; in it was a written scroll. 10 He unrolled it before me; it was covered with writing front and back. Written on it was: Lamentation, wailing, woe!(I)

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Son of man: in Hebrew, “son/daughter of…” is a common idiom expressing affiliation in a group; in this case, “a human being.” The title is God’s habitual way of addressing the prophet throughout this book, probably used to emphasize the separation of the divine and the human.
  2. 2:2 The spirit: lit., wind, breath; a vital power, coming from God, which enables the prophet to hear the divine word; cf. 8:3; 11:1, 24.
  3. 2:6 And you sit among scorpions: the prophet must be prepared for bitter opposition.

The Sending of Ezekiel

Then He said to me, “Son of man, (A)stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” And as He spoke to me, the (B)Spirit entered me and caused me to stand on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have (C)rebelled against Me; (D)they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are [a](E)stiff-[b]faced and strong-hearted children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh.’ As for them, (F)whether they listen or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—they will (G)know that a prophet has been among them. Now as for you, son of man, (H)do not fear them and do not fear their words, though (I)thistles and briers are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall (J)speak My words to them (K)whether they listen or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

“Now as for you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and (L)eat what I am giving you.” Then I looked, and behold, a (M)hand was sent forth to me; and behold, a [c](N)scroll was in it. 10 Then He spread it out before me, and it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, sighing, and (O)woe.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:4 Or obstinate and stubborn
  2. Ezekiel 2:4 Or of presence, cf. 2:6
  3. Ezekiel 2:9 Lit scroll of a book

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

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

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;

10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.