Ezekiel 2:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 2:1-5

The title here given to Ezekiel, as often afterwards, is very observable. God, when he speaks to him, calls him, Son of man (Ezek. 2:1, 3), Son of Adam, Son of the earth. Daniel is once called so (Dan. 8:17) and but once; the compellation is used to no other of the prophets but to Ezekiel all along. We may take it, 1. As a humble diminishing title. Lest Ezekiel should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, he is put in mind of this, that sill he is a son of man, a mean, weak,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 2:3

And he said unto me, son of man ,.... Now follow his mission and commission, and an account of the persons to whom he was sent: I send thee to the children of Israel ; that were captives in Babylon, in Jehoiakim's captivity; so Christ was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Matthew 15:24 ; to a rebellious nation, that hath rebelled against me ; or, "rebellious Gentiles", F21 אל גוים המורדים "ad gentes, rebelles", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 2:4

For they are impudent children ,.... "Hard of face" F23 קשי פנים "duri facie", Pagninus, Vatablus, Calvin, Cocceius, Starckius. ; as is commonly said of impudent persons, that they are brasen faced; they had a whore's forehead, and refused to be ashamed, and made their faces harder than a rock, Jeremiah 3:3 ; they declared their sin as Sodam, and hid it not; they sinned openly, and could not blush at it: and stiffhearted ; or, "strong of heart" F24 חזקי לב "duri... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 2:3

Son of man - This appellative, so often mentioned in this book, seems to have been given first to this prophet; afterwards to Daniel; and after that to the Man Christ Jesus. Perhaps it was given to the two former to remind them of their frailty, and that they should not be exalted in their own minds by the extraordinary revelations granted to them; and that they should feel themselves of the same nature with those to whom they were sent; and, from the common principle of humanity, deeply... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 2:4

Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord - Let them know that what thou hast to declare is the message of the Lord, that they may receive it with reverence. Every preacher of God's word should take heed that it is God's message he delivers to the people. Let him not suppose, because it is according to his own creed or confession of faith, that therefore it is God's word. False doctrines and fallacies without end are foisted on the world in this way. Bring the creed first to the Word... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 2:3

Verse 3 The Prophet now more clearly explains the object of the vision which he has formerly mentioned, namely, that being armed with authority he might more freely discharge the office of Prophet among the Israelites. For we know that God claims this honor to himself alone, that he should be head in his Church, and deservedly so, for he is not called our Lawgiver in vain, (Isaiah 33:22; James 4:12,) and our wisdom consists in nothing else but in attending to his instructions. Since, therefore,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 2:4

Verse 4 God proceeds in the same discourse, but expresses in other words the great rebellion of the people, for they were not only obstinate and unbending in heart, but also of a contumacious countenance: therefore he places hardness in face as well as in heart. The words indeed are different, קשי , keshi, and חזקי, chezki, “of brazen countenance,” for we may translate “winked” and “contumacious,” for this disposition appears in the countenance, nor is it objectionable to render it “impudent.”... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 2:2-5

An arduous embassage. Every prophet is a missionary; every true missionary is a prophet. In an inferior sense of the word, he is a mediator—a mediator between God and man. I. THE MISSIONARY CHARACTER OF THE PROPHET . He is one "sent." He goes not to this difficult and responsible work by the impulse of his own reason or will. He is in the employ and under the direction of another—of One whom he cannot disregard. He cannot go or stay, as he pleases, he is a servant. The Son... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 2:3

To a rebellious nation ; literally, with Revised Version, nations that are rebellious. The Hebrew word ( goim ) is that used elsewhere for "heathen" and that may be its sense here. As in Ezekiel 28:22 . Judah and Israel may be thought of as having fallen to the level of the heathen. Part of Ezekiel's work was actually addressed to the heathen as such (ch. 25-32.). The word may, however, be used in the plural to include both Judah and the remnant of the northern kingdom. They and their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 2:3

Rebellious nations. This must have been a bard message for Ezekiel to deliver to his fellow countrymen. It was the heathen, the Gentiles, who were usually designated "nations;" and in applying this designation to Israel, he seemed to degrade the chosen people from their peculiar position of honour, and to rank them with the idolatrous nations whom they were accustomed to despise. And it has been surmised that, in employing the plural, the prophet intended to intimate that the Hebrews no... read more

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