Ezekiel 3:8-9

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 Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 3:9

As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead ,.... Or, "than a rock" F15 מצור "rupe", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Piscator; "prae rupe", Cocceius; "ex rupe", Starckius; "prae petra", Montanus. ; the "adamant" has its name in Greek, because it cannot be conquered or subdued, neither by the hammer, nor by fire; the one cannot break, nor this other consume it; land it is called "shamir" in Hebrew, from its preserving itself from both; it will cut iron in pieces, which... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 3:9

Verse 9 Lastly, we gather from this passage that although the whole world should rise up against the servants of God, yet his strength would be superior, as we saw it was with Jeremiah: They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail. (Jeremiah 1:19; Jeremiah 15:20.) Hence there is no reason why we should be afraid of the violent attack of any enemy, and although the whole world should be in a tumult, yet we need not tremble, because God’s strength in us will always be more powerful.... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:9

Adamant . The Hebrew word shemir is used in Jeremiah 17:1 (where the Authorized Version gives "diamond" for a stone used in engraving on gems. In Zechariah 7:12 it appears, as it does here, as a type of exceeding hardness. It is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. It is commonly identified with the stone known as corundum, which appears in some of its forms as the sapphire and the Oriental ruby, and also as the stone the powder of which is used as emery. The special point of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:9

Adamant. I. WHAT IT IS FOR THE FOREHEAD TO BE OF ADAMANT . 1 . It is external hardness . Zechariah writes of those who "made their hearts as an adamant stone" ( Zechariah 7:12 ). Ezekiel is not to do this; he only has his forehead made as adamant. The adamantine heart is a sign of sin. It is sure to fail in all attempts at spiritual work. We must feel sympathy with those whom we would help. But it is possible to have a "tough skin with a tender heart."... read more

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