Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 2:4
4The descendants are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’
Ezekiel 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’
Context of Ezekiel 2:4
2As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the one who was speaking to me. 3He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day. The descendants are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ 5Whether 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 and do not be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house.
Read all of Ezekiel 2Ezekiel 2:4 word by word
וְהַבָּנִ֗ים קְשֵׁ֤י פָנִים֙ וְחִזְקֵי־לֵ֔ב אֲנִ֛י שׁוֹלֵ֥חַ אוֹתְךָ֖ אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- impudentפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- impudentקָשֶׁהqâsheh · severeH7186
- childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- and stiffheartedלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- and stiffheartedחָזָקchâzâq · strongH2389
- I do sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- thee unto them; and thou shalt sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
Cross-references for Ezekiel 2:4
- Ezekiel 3:7But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted.
- Deuteronomy 10:16Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer.
- Deuteronomy 31:27For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are rebelling against the Lord now, while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after I am dead!
- 2 Chronicles 30:8Don’t become obstinate now like your ancestors did. Give your allegiance to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God so that he may turn his burning anger away from you,
- 2 Chronicles 36:13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God. He became obstinate and hardened his heart against returning to the Lord, the God of Israel.
- Psalms 95:8Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
- Isaiah 48:4Because I know that you are stubborn, and your neck is iron and your forehead bronze,
- Jeremiah 3:3This is why the showers haven’t come — why there has been no spring rain. You have the brazen look of a prostitute and refuse to be ashamed.
- Jeremiah 5:3Lord, don’t your eyes look for faithfulness? You have struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They made their faces harder than rock, and they refused to return.
- Jeremiah 6:15Were they ashamed when they acted so detestably? They weren’t at all ashamed. They can no longer feel humiliation. Therefore, they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 8:12Were they ashamed when they acted so detestably? They weren’t at all ashamed. They can no longer feel humiliation. Therefore, they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse,” says the Lord.
- Matthew 10:16“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
- Proverbs 21:29A wicked person puts on a bold face, but the upright one considers his way.
- 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”
- Jeremiah 26:2“This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all Judah’s cities that are coming to worship there. Do not hold back a word.
- Acts 20:26Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,
Commentaries on Ezekiel 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Thou 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Israel was stubborn and hard-hearted (unwilling to listen and obey). They would not listen to Ezekiel. His message would not show results right away. However, they would later know that a prophet had been among them speaking God’s word.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. impudent--literally, "hard-faced" (Eze 3:7, 9). children--resumptive of "they" (Eze 2:3); the "children" walk in their "fathers'" steps. I ... send thee--God opposes His command to all obstacles. Duties are ours; events are God's. Thus saith the Lord God--God opposes His name to the obstinacy of the people.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries