The Prophets · Old Testament
Ezekiel 2
Ezekiel 2: "Son of man" sent to a rebellious house and handed a roll
General context
The voice heard at the end of chapter 1 now speaks. It addresses the speaker as "Son of man" and tells him to stand; the spirit enters him and sets him on his feet. He is sent "to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me," a people who with their fathers "have transgressed against me, even unto this very day." They are called "impudent children and stiffhearted," and he is to say to them, "Thus saith the Lord God." Whether they hear or forbear, "yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them." He is told three times not to be afraid of them or their words, "though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions." He must speak the Lord's words whether they listen or not, and must not himself be rebellious "like that rebellious house." He is commanded to open his mouth and eat what is given. A hand is sent to him holding "a roll of a book," spread out before him and "written within and without," and what is written on it is "lamentations, and mourning, and woe."
Cited passages: Ezekiel 2:1, Ezekiel 2:2, Ezekiel 2:3, Ezekiel 2:4, Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 2:6, Ezekiel 2:7, Ezekiel 2:8, Ezekiel 2:9, Ezekiel 2:10
Ezekiel 2 (KJV)
1And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
2And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
3And 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.
4For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
8But 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.
9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
10And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
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Historical context
The speaker of the commission is not named in this chapter; the text says only "he said unto me," continuing the "voice of one that spake" from 1:28. The one addressed is called "Son of man" four times here, and this is the form of address that the book uses for him from now on; the name Ezekiel appears in chapter 1 and is not repeated here. The people he is sent to are called "the children of Israel," "a rebellious nation" and "a rebellious house." The chapter does not say where those people are; chapter 3 will send him "to them of the captivity." The charge against them is general: rebellion and transgression "even unto this very day," with no specific acts listed yet. The phrase "whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear" leaves the outcome open; the only thing promised is that they will know a prophet was among them. The roll's contents are given as three words, "lamentations, and mourning, and woe," and the chapter does not report the actual text written on it. The eating is commanded but not yet done; that comes in 3:1-3.
Cited passages: Ezekiel 2:1, Ezekiel 2:3, Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 2:10, Ezekiel 2:8
Literary context
The chapter is almost entirely speech, framed by two brief actions: the spirit setting the speaker on his feet at the start and the hand offering the roll at the end. The word "rebellious" appears in five of the ten verses, "a rebellious nation," "a rebellious house" three times, "most rebellious," and then turned on the prophet himself, "Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house." The pair "whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear" appears twice and refuses to predict a result. The command "be not afraid" is stacked with images of briers, thorns and scorpions and then reduced to "nor be dismayed at their looks," so the threat is described as words and faces rather than blows. The chapter ends by physically putting the message into the prophet's hands and then his mouth, and the description of the roll, "written within and without," with nothing but lamentation, mourning and woe, sets the tone for what he will have to speak.
Cited passages: Ezekiel 2:3, Ezekiel 2:6, Ezekiel 2:7, Ezekiel 2:8, Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 2:9, Ezekiel 2:10
Key moments
- Stand upon thy feet (Ezekiel 2:1). The voice addresses the speaker as Son of man and tells him to stand.
- Sent to a rebellious nation (Ezekiel 2:3). He is sent to the children of Israel, who with their fathers have transgressed.
- Hear or forbear (Ezekiel 2:5). Whatever they do, they will know a prophet has been among them.
- Briers, thorns and scorpions (Ezekiel 2:6). He is told not to fear their words or their looks.
- The roll of a book (Ezekiel 2:9). A hand is sent to him holding a roll.
- Lamentations, mourning and woe (Ezekiel 2:10). The roll is written on both sides with lamentation, mourning and woe.
For reflection
The prophet is promised no result except that the people "shall know that there hath been a prophet among them." What kind of task is it to speak when the only stated outcome is being recognized afterward?
