Ezekiel 2:5

whether they will hear, or . . . forbear . The latter is evidently assumed, and to be expected; as in 2 Timothy 4:3 . But no alternative is given.

" My words " correspond with "preach the word "(2 Timothy 4:2 ).

forbear = abstain, or refuse to hear.

a rebellious house . Hebrew a house of rebellion. Not the same word as in Ezekiel 2:3 . Hebrew. meri, from marah, to be bitter, perverse, refractory. Reference to Pentateuch, (Numbers 17:10 . Deuteronomy 31:27 ). Elsewhere only in 1 Samuel 15:23 .Nehemiah 9:17 , Job 24:13 , Proverbs 17:13 .Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 30:9 ). The Verb occurs forty-three times in O.T. The Noun occurs sixteen times in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:5 , Ezekiel 2:6 , Ezekiel 2:7 , Ezekiel 2:8 ; Ezekiel 2:3 :9 ; Eze 2:26-27 ; Ezekiel 12:2 , Ezekiel 12:3 , Ezekiel 12:9 , Ezekiel 12:25 ; Ezekiel 17:12 ; Ezekiel 24:3 ; Ezekiel 44:6 ).