Ezekiel 3:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 3:1-15

These verses are fitly joined by some translators to the foregoing chapter, as being of a piece with it and a continuation of the same vision. The prophets received the word from God that they might deliver it to the people of God, furnished themselves that they might furnish them with the knowledge of the mind and will of God. Now here the prophet is taught, I. How he must receive divine revelation himself, Ezek. 3:1. Christ (whom he saw upon the throne, Ezek. 1:26) said to him, ?Son of man,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 3:8

Behold, I have made the, face strong against their faces ,.... Not that the prophet should have the same sort of impudence and confidence they had; but that God would "give" F14 נתתי את פניך "dedi faciem tuam", V. L. Vatablus, Cocceius, Starckius. him such a face, as it is in the Hebrew text, such spirit and courage, that he should neither be ashamed of the words of the Lord, nor afraid to speak them to this people; so that he should be a match for them; they should not be able... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 3:8

Verse 8 Ezekiel was forewarned of the obstinacy of the people, yea, even of their desperate wickedness. Now God strengthens him lest he should despair when he saw that he must contend with such abandoned and reckless men; for what else was it than contending with stones? If Ezekiel had been commanded to strike a mountain, it would have been just the same as contending with such a people. He had need then of this strengthening, viz., his forehead should be adamant against the hardness of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:4-14

Ambassadorship. God makes unusual manifestations of his glory to men, to qualify them for extraordinary service. The opened heavens and the voice of Divine approbation, on the occasion of Jesus' baptism, were a preparation for the desert conflict. The transfiguration of our Lord on the mount was designed to qualify the disciples for arduous spiritual toil. Ezekiel found it right pleasant to receive higher revelations of God's Person and God's will, but irksome to the flesh to convey that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:8

I have made thy face strong; literally, as in the Revised Version, hard. Ezekiel's name was at once nomen et omen. Hard as Israel might be, he could be made harder, i.e. stronger, than they, end should prevail against them (compare the parallels of Isaiah 1:7 ; Jeremiah 1:18 ; Jeremiah 15:20 ). The boldness of God's prophets is a strictly supernatural gift. Whatever persistency there may be in evil, they will be able to meet it, perhaps to overcome it, by a greater persistency in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:8-9

The fearlessness of the Lord's messenger. After hearing that Israel would give no heed to his prophetic messages, the Prophet Ezekiel must have needed strong encouraging. It is always depressing to engage in a hopeless undertaking. Yet there was a moral necessity for the mission to be fulfilled. And the Lord strengthened and fortified his servant for his painful duty by breathing into him a Divine courage, and by bidding him dismiss all fear. Although Ezekiel's position was very special,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 3:8

I have made ... thy forehead strong - I have given thee a strength superior to theirs; a metaphor taken from horned animals. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 3:5-8

Ezekiel 3:5-8. Thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech It would be a great addition to the burden of thy office if thou wert sent, as Jonah was, as a prophet to a foreign nation, and to a people whose language thou couldest not understand, nor they thine. Not to many people of a strange speech, &c. God seems, as it were, to hint here that the time would come when he should order his messengers to go to many people of a strange speech, and should find those who would obey him... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 3:1-15

Sent to a stubborn people (2:1-3:15)In contrast to the glorious and almighty God, Ezekiel is addressed merely as ‘son of man’. This was a Hebrew phrase which here simply means ‘man’ (GNB: mortal man) and which is used consistently throughout the book when Ezekiel is addressed (2:1-2). God was going to send Ezekiel with his message to his rebellious people (3). Ezekiel was warned that he might suffer cruel treatment at the hands of his countrymen, but he had to persevere. Whether they heeded his... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezekiel 3:8

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . strong = strong, or hard (for endurance). Hebrew. hazak. Same as "harder "(Ezekiel 3:9 ). Compare the name Ezekiel in Title. read more

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