Ezekiel 2:4

2 And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me.

3 “Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me.

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.’

5 And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6 But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.’
KJV
For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
WEB
The children are impudent and stiff-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’
ASV
And the children are impudent and stiffhearted: I do sent thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah.
DARBY
and these children are impudent and hard-hearted: I am sending thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah.
BLB
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.’
ÅB
Og til barna med de frekke ansikter og hårde hjerter sender jeg deg, og du skal si til dem: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud.
OTB
Jeg sender deg til et folk som er frekke og sta, og du skal si til dem: ‘Dette sier Herren Gud.’
B1930
Og til barna med de frekke ansikter og hårde hjerter sender jeg dig, og du skal si til dem: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 95:8

    do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 48:4

    For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 36:13

    He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 21:29

    A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.

    Read in context
  • 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!

    Read in context