Ezekiel 2:3 kjv
And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
Ezekiel 2:3 nkjv
And He said to me: "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.
Ezekiel 2:3 niv
He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.
Ezekiel 2:3 esv
And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
Ezekiel 2:3 nlt
"Son of man," he said, "I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day.
Ezekiel 2 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 2:3 | And he said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites... | Eze 2:3 (itself) |
| Jer 1:7 | But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'... | Jer 1:7 (Divine Commission) |
| Acts 20:24 | But I do not count my life of any value to myself, so that I may... | Acts 20:24 (Purpose Driven Life) |
| Rom 1:1 | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle... | Rom 1:1 (Apostolic Calling) |
| John 15:16 | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you... | John 15:16 (Christ's Appointment) |
| Isa 6:8 | Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send... | Isa 6:8 (Isaiah's Call) |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any... | Heb 4:12 (Power of God's Word) |
| Luke 1:19 | And in answer the angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand... | Luke 1:19 (Angelic Mediation) |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... | Acts 1:8 (Empowerment for Witness) |
| Jer 23:21 | I did not send these prophets, yet they ran... | Jer 23:21 (True vs. False Prophets) |
| Eze 3:4 | Then he said to me, "Son of man, go, speak to my people Israel." | Eze 3:4 (Direct Command) |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Ps 119:105 (Guidance of God's Word) |
| Eze 13:6 | You have seen false visions and spoken lying divinations... | Eze 13:6 (Distinguishing True Prophets) |
| 1 Cor 1:1 | Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus... | 1 Cor 1:1 (Apostle by God's Will) |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet from among their brothers, like... | Deut 18:18 (Prophetic Promise) |
| Eze 33:7 | So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel... | Eze 33:7 (Role of the Watchman) |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret... | Amos 3:7 (God Revealing Plans) |
| Matt 10:40 | Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives... | Matt 10:40 (Receiving the Messenger) |
| Gal 1:16 | to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the... | Gal 1:16 (Revealing God's Son) |
| Eph 3:7 | Of this gospel I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's... | Eph 3:7 (Minister of the Gospel) |
Ezekiel 2 verses
Ezekiel 2 3 Meaning
The Lord commissioned Ezekiel as a prophet, speaking to him directly and setting him apart. This initial address signifies God's personal involvement in initiating His message through Ezekiel. It highlights the direct transmission of divine authority and the weighty responsibility placed upon the prophet. The core message is God’s intention to communicate His will to a specific people.
Ezekiel 2 3 Context
Chapter 2 sets the stage for Ezekiel's prophetic ministry. Following the vision of God's glory departing the Temple, Ezekiel is directly addressed by God. The immediate context is God's command to speak His message to the nation of Israel. This is the foundational commission for his prophetic work. Historically, this occurred during the Babylonian exile, a time of severe judgment and national despair for Judah. The Israelites were living in a state of spiritual and political crisis, having been taken captive. Ezekiel's message would be one of both judgment for their disobedience and hope for future restoration.
Ezekiel 2 3 Word Analysis
- "and He": "He" refers to God, emphasizing His active role in initiating the communication and commission.
- "said": signifies a verbal declaration, a direct utterance from the divine to the human.
- "to me": indicates a personal and direct address to Ezekiel.
- "Son of man": (Hebrew: "ben adam" - בֶּן־אָדָם, "ben" meaning son, "adam" meaning man/mankind) This is a recurring and significant term of address for Ezekiel, often emphasizing his humanity in contrast to the divine being he represents. It implies humility and dependence. Jesus Himself uses this term frequently for Himself, connecting His humanity and suffering with the prophetic ministry. It places Ezekiel firmly within the human race, but one specially appointed by God.
- "I": God Himself, speaking with divine authority.
- "am sending": This denotes an ongoing action of dispatching, conveying that the commission is not a one-time event but a continuous sending forth. The present continuous implies immediate commencement and ongoing engagement.
- "you": Ezekiel, the prophet.
- "to the": A preposition indicating the recipient of the mission.
- "Israelites": (Hebrew: "Benei Yisrael" - בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) the people of Israel, God's chosen covenant nation. Despite their sin and present judgment, they remain the focus of God's redemptive plan, though the message contains pronouncements against them.
Ezekiel 2 3 Bonus Section
The repeated use of "Son of Man" throughout Ezekiel is significant. It aligns Ezekiel with Daniel (Dan 7:13, 8:17, 10:16-17) and most importantly, with Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus identified Himself with this title during His earthly ministry, connecting His mission with suffering and eventual divine vindication, mirroring aspects of Ezekiel's prophetic burden. The directive to send Ezekiel "to the Israelites" signifies that God's judgment and salvific plans are deeply intertwined with His covenant people. Despite their rebellion, God’s love and purpose for Israel persist, making them the vehicle through which His redemptive purposes will ultimately unfold.
Ezekiel 2 3 Commentary
This verse marks the solemn inauguration of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry. The phrase "Son of Man" underscores Ezekiel's position as God's representative, highlighting his humanity before the Divine Majesty. The Lord explicitly states His intent to send Ezekiel, emphasizing that this mission is divinely ordained. The recipients are the Israelites, signifying that despite their current covenant-breaking state, they remain the primary focus of God's redemptive communication. The command is absolute, setting forth the prophet's role and divine authorization. It’s crucial to note that while sending them to "the Israelites," the message he carries is largely one of judgment for their rebellion, a theme that becomes clearer in subsequent verses and chapters. This establishes the pattern of prophetic communication: facing a people with God's truth, even when it is harsh.