Ezekiel 3 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Ezekiel 3 meaning explained in AI Summary

Chapter 3 of Ezekiel details the prophet's official commission by God and his initial instructions for his prophetic ministry.

Here are the key points:

Eating the Scroll (vv. 1-3): God commands Ezekiel to eat a scroll filled with words of lament, mourning, and woe. This symbolizes the internalization of God's message, both sweet and bitter, that Ezekiel must deliver.
Commissioned as a Watchman (vv. 4-11): God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman to the house of Israel. He is to warn the wicked of their ways and pronounce God's judgment. Even if they refuse to listen, Ezekiel fulfills his duty by delivering the message.
The Spirit's Power (vv. 12-15): The Spirit lifts Ezekiel up and transports him to Tel-abib, where exiles from Judah reside. The experience is overwhelming, but it emphasizes the power of God working through him.
Responsibility and Warning (vv. 16-21): God reiterates Ezekiel's role as a watchman. He is responsible for warning the wicked, and if he fails to do so, their blood will be on his hands. However, if he warns them and they don't listen, they bear the consequences of their own sin.
Silence and Speech (vv. 22-27): God instructs Ezekiel to remain silent until He gives him a message to speak. This signifies that Ezekiel's words are not his own but divinely inspired and authorized.

Overall, Chapter 3 establishes the following:

Ezekiel's Call: He is called by God to be a prophet, specifically a "watchman" to the Israelites.
The Message: His message will be one of judgment and warning, urging repentance from their wicked ways.
The Audience: His primary audience is the rebellious house of Israel in exile.
The Responsibility: Ezekiel is accountable for delivering God's message faithfully, regardless of the response.

This chapter sets the stage for Ezekiel's prophetic ministry, highlighting the gravity of his task and the divine authority behind his words.

Ezekiel 3 bible study ai commentary

Ezekiel 3 details the commissioning of the prophet. It moves from his internal acceptance of the divine word (eating the scroll) to understanding the nature of his difficult audience (the rebellious house of Israel) and the gravity of his mission (the watchman's responsibility). The chapter concludes with God divinely restricting Ezekiel's speech, turning his very silence and selective proclamations into a prophetic sign, underscoring God's sovereignty over the message and its delivery.

Ezekiel 3 Context

This chapter is set around 593 BC, during the early years of the Babylonian exile. The prophet and his audience are among the first wave of deportees, living by the Chebar canal in Babylon. They are grappling with the loss of their land, king, and temple—the pillars of their identity. Many likely believed either that God was unable to protect them or had unjustly abandoned them. Ezekiel's prophetic ministry begins here, not in Judah, addressing this disoriented and resentful community. His message directly confronts their nationalistic pride and theological misunderstandings.

Ezekiel 3:1-3

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

In-depth-analysis

Son of man (ben-'adam): This phrase, used over 90 times in Ezekiel, emphasizes the prophet's humanity and frailty in contrast to the divine glory he witnessed in chapter 1. It is not a messianic title here, but a reminder of his mortal status as God's servant.
Eat this scroll: A powerful metaphor for prophetic calling. The prophet cannot merely repeat God's words; he must fully internalize, digest, and assimilate the message until it becomes an inseparable part of him. The message must consume the messenger before he can deliver it.
Sweet as honey: Despite the scroll containing words of "lamentation and mourning and woe" (Eze 2:10), the experience of receiving and internalizing God's direct revelation is sweet. The source (God) and the privilege of communion are good, even if the content (judgment) is bitter to the world. It signifies obedience and delight in God's will.

Bible references

Revelation 10:9-10: '...He said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."' (An almost identical command given to the Apostle John, linking the prophetic experience across testaments).
Jeremiah 15:16: 'Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart...' (Jeremiah also "consumes" God's words, finding personal delight in them).
Psalm 119:103: 'How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!' (The general principle of the sweetness and desirability of God's Word/Law).

Cross references

Jer 1:9 (God touching Jeremiah's mouth); Ps 19:10 (judgments are sweeter than honey); Ps 1:2 (delighting in God's law).

Ezekiel 3:4-9

And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them... For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel... But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me... Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery, harder than flint, have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”

In-depth-analysis

Irony of Mission: God highlights Israel's extreme rebellion by stating that foreigners with a "hard language" would have been more receptive. The problem is not a language barrier but a heart barrier.
Hard of forehead (qasheh-panim) and stubborn of heart (khazaq-leb): These terms describe a brazen, defiant, and unyielding obstinacy. It's a description of a will set firmly against God.
Forehead vs. Forehead: God does not remove the opposition; He equips His prophet to withstand it. He makes Ezekiel's spiritual resolve (face/forehead) harder than Israel's. The word for "emery" or "adamant" is shamir, suggesting something diamond-hard, capable of cutting rock. This is a promise of divine fortitude.
Fear them not: A standard biblical encouragement for God's servants facing overwhelming opposition, rooting their confidence in God's empowerment, not their own strength.

Bible references

Jeremiah 1:18-19: '...I have made you today a fortified city... an iron pillar, and bronze walls... They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you...' (A parallel promise of divine reinforcement for a prophet to a rebellious people).
Isaiah 50:7: '...Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.' (The Messianic servant describes a similar divine resolve to face opposition).
Acts 7:51: 'You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit...' (Stephen's description of Israel's historic rebellion, echoing Ezekiel's assessment).

Cross references

Jer 5:3 (refused to repent); Isa 48:4 (neck of iron); Jer 1:8 (do not be afraid); Deut 31:6 (be strong and courageous).

Polemics

The polemic here is against Israel's self-perception. They considered themselves God's chosen people, yet God declares them more rebellious than pagans. The "hard forehead" imagery directly confronts their proud stubbornness, showing that God's power can create a resolve in His servant that is infinitely stronger than their rebellion.

Ezekiel 3:10-15

Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them... And the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!”... The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib... and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.

In-depth-analysis

Supernatural Transport: "The Spirit lifted me up" describes a visionary or physical transport, emphasizing that Ezekiel's ministry operates under direct divine power and initiative.
Bitterness in the heat of my spirit: This is not sinful anger. It is a holy indignation and profound grief. Ezekiel is overwhelmed by the weight of the dreadful judgment he must announce and by the holiness of the God who commands it. He feels God's own grief and anger over Israel's sin.
Hand of the LORD was strong upon me: Signifies divine empowerment and compulsion. Ezekiel is not acting on his own accord; he is completely under the sovereign influence and control of God's power.
Overwhelmed seven days: He sits in a stunned, desolate silence (mashim). This serves two purposes: 1) It allows him to process the terrifying divine encounter and the heavy commission. 2) His state is a living sign-act, a non-verbal sermon to the exiles communicating the shocking and calamitous nature of the message to come.

Bible references

Job 2:13: 'And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.' (A parallel period of silent mourning and astonishment).
Acts 8:39: '...the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more...' (Another instance of supernatural transport in the New Testament).
1 Kings 19:4: Elijah, overwhelmed by his mission and the people's rebellion, sat in despair. (Reflects the emotional toll of prophetic ministry).

Cross references

Eze 1:28 (falling on his face); Eze 8:3 (transported in vision); 2 Ki 2:16 (search for transported Elijah); Ezra 9:3-4 (grief and astonishment).

Ezekiel 3:16-21

...the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me... If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning... that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn... he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

In-depth-analysis

Watchman (tzopheh): A sentinel posted on a city wall whose sole duty was to watch for approaching danger and sound the alarm. Ezekiel's role is not to save, persuade, or coerce, but to faithfully warn of the coming judgment.
Individual Accountability: This passage is a landmark in Old Testament theology. While the nation faced corporate judgment, Ezekiel's message drills down to the level of the individual. The prophet is responsible for the warning, and each person is responsible for their response.
Bloodguilt: This legal concept is applied spiritually. Failure to warn makes the prophet complicit in the sinner's destruction ("his blood I will require at your hand"). Faithful warning, regardless of the outcome, absolves the prophet of this guilt ("you will have delivered your soul").
Warning the Righteous: The principle applies even to the righteous. A person's past righteousness does not grant immunity if they turn to sin. They too must be warned, highlighting that relationship with God is a present, ongoing reality.

Bible references

Ezekiel 33:1-9: 'So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel... And if you do not speak to warn the wicked... his blood I will require at your hand.' (God repeats and expands on the watchman commission later in the book).
Acts 20:26-27: 'Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.' (Paul uses the same principle to describe his apostolic ministry to the Ephesian elders).
Hebrews 13:17: '...for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.' (The concept of spiritual watchfulness and accountability applied to New Testament church leaders).

Cross references

Isa 62:6 (watchmen on Jerusalem's walls); Jer 6:17 (watchmen for Israel); Hab 2:1 (I will take my stand at my watchpost); Eze 18:20-24 (the soul who sins shall die).

Ezekiel 3:22-27

And the hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, “Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you.”... “Go, shut yourself within your house. And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute... But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth... And he who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.”

In-depth-analysis

Return to the Valley: God calls Ezekiel back to the place of the initial vision for a reinforcement of his call before imposing new restrictions.
Bound and Mute: Ezekiel is to be confined and silenced. This can be interpreted literally (as a result of hostility) and/or symbolically. His silence and isolation are a divinely-commanded sign-act, representing the breakdown of communication between God and his people.
Sovereign Speech: God now completely controls Ezekiel's ability to speak. The prophet is not to engage in casual conversation or deliver his own opinions. He will speak only when God gives him a specific word. His opened mouth will be an event in itself, a signal that a divine oracle is being delivered.
Let him hear... let him refuse: A declaration of divine sovereignty over the results. Ezekiel’s responsibility is simply obedience. The response of the hearers—which sorts them into listeners and refusers—is their own, but ultimately fulfills God's purpose for a rebellious house.

Bible references

Luke 1:20, 22: '...and behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place... And he came out and could not speak to them...' (Zechariah is struck mute by an angel for his unbelief, his silence a sign of God's certain judgment and plan).
Amos 8:11: '“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread... but of hearing the words of the LORD."' (Ezekiel’s muteness is a living enactment of this threatened judgment).
Exodus 4:11: 'Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? ...Is it not I, the LORD?"' (God asserts His absolute sovereignty over the ability to speak, a comfort to Moses and a tool in Ezekiel's ministry).

Cross references

Eze 24:27 (mouth opened at news of Jerusalem's fall); Isa 6:9-10 (commanded to preach to a deaf people); Rev 22:11 (let the evildoer still do evil); Mark 4:9 (he who has ears to hear...).

Ezekiel Chapter 3 Analysis

The Prophet's Life as Message: More than any other prophet, Ezekiel’s own body and life become the medium for his message. Eating the scroll (ch 3), lying on his side for 430 days (ch 4), shaving his head (ch 5), his divinely imposed muteness (ch 3), and even the death of his wife (ch 24) are all "sign-acts." They are living parables that force the exiles to confront the reality of God's Word.
Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: This chapter masterfully holds two truths in tension. God equips, strengthens, and even physically compels the prophet, controlling his very speech (sovereignty). At the same time, the prophet is held utterly accountable for delivering the warning, and each individual is held responsible for their choice to listen or refuse (responsibility). The watchman motif is the theological hinge on which this tension balances.
From Corporate to Individual: The watchman oracle (vv. 16-21) signals a crucial development in Old Testament thought, which Ezekiel will expand fully in chapter 18. While Israel is judged as a rebellious "house," accountability is enforced at the individual level. One cannot hide in the crowd; each soul must answer for their own sin or righteousness before God. This was a radical message for a people accustomed to thinking primarily in corporate, national terms.

Ezekiel 3 Summary

God commissions Ezekiel by having him internalize the divine word, which is sweet to him personally despite its content of judgment. He is warned that his mission is to a uniquely hard-hearted and rebellious Israel, but God promises to make the prophet's resolve stronger than their opposition. Ezekiel is then designated as a "watchman," establishing the principle of individual accountability for both the messenger and the hearer. Finally, God sovereignly imposes periods of muteness and isolation upon Ezekiel, making his very ability to speak a prophetic sign to the exiles.

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Ezekiel chapter 3 kjv

¹ Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
² So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
³ And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
⁴ And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
⁵ For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
⁶ Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
⁷ But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
⁸ Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
⁹ As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
¹⁰ Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
¹¹ And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
¹² Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.
¹³ I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.
¹⁴ So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
¹⁵ Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
¹⁶ And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
¹⁷ Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
¹⁸ When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
¹⁹ Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
²⁰ Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
²¹ Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
²² And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.
²³ Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
²⁴ Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.
²⁵ But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:
²⁶ And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.
²⁷ But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel chapter 3 nkjv

¹ Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."
² So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.
³ And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.
⁴ Then He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.
⁵ For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel,
⁶ not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
⁷ But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted.
⁸ Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads.
⁹ Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house."
¹⁰ Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.
¹¹ And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse."
¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: "Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!"
¹³ I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise.
¹⁴ So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
¹⁵ Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
¹⁶ Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
¹⁷ "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
¹⁸ When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
¹⁹ Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
²⁰ "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
²¹ Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul."
²² Then the hand of the LORD was upon me there, and He said to me, "Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you."
²³ So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.
²⁴ Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: "Go, shut yourself inside your house.
²⁵ And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them.
²⁶ I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house.
²⁷ But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel chapter 3 niv

¹ And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel."
² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
³ Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
⁴ He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.
⁵ You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel?
⁶ not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
⁷ But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.
⁸ But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.
⁹ I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people."
¹⁰ And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.
¹¹ Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."
¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the LORD rose from the place where it was standing.
¹³ It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.
¹⁴ The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD on me.
¹⁵ I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days?deeply distressed.
¹⁶ At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me:
¹⁷ "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
¹⁸ When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
¹⁹ But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
²⁰ "Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
²¹ But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
²² The hand of the LORD was on me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you."
²³ So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house.
²⁵ And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.
²⁶ I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people.
²⁷ But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

Ezekiel chapter 3 esv

¹ And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."
² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.
³ And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
⁴ And he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.
⁵ For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel ?
⁶ not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you.
⁷ But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.
⁸ Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.
⁹ Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house."
¹⁰ Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
¹¹ And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear or refuse to hear."
¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!"
¹³ It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake.
¹⁴ The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.
¹⁵ And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
¹⁶ And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me:
¹⁷ "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
¹⁸ If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
¹⁹ But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
²⁰ Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.
²¹ But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul."
²² And the hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, "Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you."
²³ So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.
²⁴ But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, "Go, shut yourself within your house.
²⁵ And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people.
²⁶ And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house.
²⁷ But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel chapter 3 nlt

¹ The voice said to me, "Son of man, eat what I am giving you ? eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel."
² So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll.
³ "Fill your stomach with this," he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
⁴ Then he said, "Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages.
⁵ I am not sending you to a foreign people whose language you cannot understand.
⁶ No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen!
⁷ But the people of Israel won't listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn.
⁸ But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are.
⁹ I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don't be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels."
¹⁰ Then he added, "Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.
¹¹ Then go to your people in exile and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says!' Do this whether they listen to you or not."
¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the LORD be praised in his place!)
¹³ It was the sound of the wings of the living beings as they brushed against each other and the rumbling of their wheels beneath them.
¹⁴ The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the LORD's hold on me was strong.
¹⁵ Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days.
¹⁶ After seven days the LORD gave me a message. He said,
¹⁷ "Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.
¹⁸ If I warn the wicked, saying, 'You are under the penalty of death,' but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
¹⁹ If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.
²⁰ "If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
²¹ But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too."
²² Then the LORD took hold of me and said, "Get up and go out into the valley, and I will speak to you there."
²³ So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the LORD, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground.
²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. He spoke to me and said, "Go to your house and shut yourself in.
²⁵ There, son of man, you will be tied with ropes so you cannot go out among the people.
²⁶ And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be speechless and unable to rebuke them, for they are rebels.
²⁷ But when I give you a message, I will loosen your tongue and let you speak. Then you will say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says!' Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.