Ezekiel 3:5

Ezekiel 3:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
• New International Version (NIV)You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—
• English Standard Version (ESV)For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel,

Context of Ezekiel 3:5

3He said, ‘Son of man, I am giving you this scroll. Eat it all and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it. It had a sweet taste like honey in my mouth. 4Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, now go to Israel's people and speak my words to them. I am not sending you to a people whose words you cannot understand. They do not speak a difficult language. No, I am sending you to Israel's people. 6I am not sending you to people who speak many different languages that you cannot understand. If I did send you to people like that, I am sure that they would listen to you. 7But Israel's people will not agree to listen to you. That is because they refuse to listen to me. All the Israelites have decided not to obey me, and they will not change.

Ezekiel 3:5 word by word

כִּ֡י לֹא֩ אֶל־עַ֨ם עִמְקֵ֥י שָׂפָ֛ה וְכִבְדֵ֥י לָשׁ֖וֹן אַתָּ֣ה שָׁל֑וּחַ אֶל־בֵּ֖ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• not sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• to a peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• of a strangeעָמֵק‛âmêq · unfathomableH6012
• speechשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: wordsH8193
• and of an hardכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
• languageלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongue: languageH3956
• to the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Ezekiel 3:5

• Jonah 1:2He said, ‘Go now to the great city of Nineveh. Tell the people in the city that I know how wicked they are. Tell them that I will punish them because of their sins.’
• Jonah 3:2He said, ‘Now go to that great city, Nineveh. Tell the people there the message that I will give to you.’
• Acts 26:17I will send you to speak about me to Jews and to Gentiles. Some of them will want to hurt you. But I will keep you safe.
• Ezekiel 3:6I am not sending you to people who speak many different languages that you cannot understand. If I did send you to people like that, I am sure that they would listen to you.
• Psalms 81:5When God punished the land of Egypt, he gave this rule to Joseph's family. I heard a voice that I did not know.
• Isaiah 33:19You will never see those cruel people again. You could not understand their language. They laughed at you with strange words.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 3:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech - I neither send thee to thy adversaries, the Chaldeans, nor to the Medes and Persians, their enemies. Even these would more likely have hearkened unto thee than thy own countrymen.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-7Ezekiel was sent to the people of Israel, who were expected to eagerly listen to the Lord. However, it would have been easier for the prophet if he had been sent to people with a strange and difficult language who could not understand him. This stubborn community refused to obey the Lord.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. See Margin, Hebrew, "deep of lip, and heavy of tongue," that is, men speaking an obscure and unintelligible tongue. Even they would have listened to the prophet; but the Jews, though addressed in their own tongue, will not hear him.Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 3:5

• Impenitence

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Hard
• Living creatures
• Warning
• Agabus
• Creature
• Hard; Hardiness; Harddiness; Hardly
• Sent

Commentaries on Ezekiel 3

• 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