Ezekiel 2:5 kjv
And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
Ezekiel 2:5 nkjv
As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse?for they are a rebellious house?yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Ezekiel 2:5 niv
And whether they listen or fail to listen?for they are a rebellious people?they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Ezekiel 2:5 esv
And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Ezekiel 2:5 nlt
And whether they listen or refuse to listen ? for remember, they are rebels ? at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.
Ezekiel 2 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ez 33:33 | "And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." | Direct fulfillment; reinforces accountability. |
| Ez 3:11 | "Go, get thee unto them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them..." | God's command to speak despite anticipated rejection. |
| Ez 3:26-27 | "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth... for they are a rebellious house." | God's control over the prophet; Israel's rebellion. |
| Deut 18:21-22 | "How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?... If the thing follow not, nor come to pass..." | Standard for authentic prophecy; validation through fulfillment. |
| Lk 10:16 | "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me..." | Rejection of messenger is rejection of God. |
| Jer 6:10 | "to whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised..." | People's spiritual deafness and inability to hear. |
| Jer 44:16 | "As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee." | Direct refusal to listen to prophetic word. |
| Zech 7:11-12 | "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears..." | Consistent theme of Israel's refusal and hard hearts. |
| Isa 30:9 | "For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:" | Description of Israel's pervasive rebellion. |
| Ps 81:11-12 | "But My people would not hearken to My voice... So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust..." | God allowing people to follow their rebellious desires. |
| Prov 1:24-27 | "Because I have called, and ye refused... when your fear cometh as desolation..." | Consequence of rejecting divine wisdom and warning. |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." | God's modus operandi of revealing through prophets. |
| Jn 15:22 | "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." | Accountability established through divine revelation. |
| Rom 1:20 | "So that they are without excuse:" | General principle of inexcusability before God. |
| 2 Thes 2:10-12 | "and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth..." | Judgment upon those who reject truth. |
| Heb 4:7 | "To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." | Urgency and importance of responding to God's voice now. |
| Ex 32:9 | "And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:" | Consistent description of Israel's stubbornness. |
| Acts 7:51-53 | "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." | Summary of Israel's history of resisting God's messengers. |
| 1 Sam 8:7 | "for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." | Rejecting God's messenger is rejection of God's authority. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes..." | Prophetic commission revealing pre-existing hardness of heart. |
| Matt 11:20-24 | "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!... it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment..." | Condemnation for rejecting Christ's powerful witness. |
| Matt 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee..." | Lament over Jerusalem's history of rejecting prophets. |
| Hos 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:" | Consequence of not knowing/obeying God's word. |
Ezekiel 2 verses
Ezekiel 2 5 Meaning
Ezekiel 2:5 conveys God's unwavering intention to send His prophet Ezekiel to the "house of Israel," regardless of their potential receptiveness. The verse asserts that even if the people choose to ignore or reject Ezekiel's message, their stubbornness will not negate the truth of God's communication. Ultimately, their future experience, particularly the unfolding of divine judgment and sovereignty, will force them to recognize and acknowledge that a true prophet of the Lord indeed stood among them, making them accountable for their actions and leaving no excuse for their disobedience.
Ezekiel 2 5 Context
Ezekiel 2:5 appears within the initial chapters detailing Ezekiel's profound call to prophetic ministry during the Babylonian exile. God directly commissions Ezekiel after an overwhelming vision of divine glory. The immediate context of Ezekiel 2 emphasizes the difficult nature of Ezekiel's task and the rebellious character of the audience to whom he is sent. Verses 2-8 of this chapter repeatedly describe the "house of Israel" as a nation defined by stubbornness, impudence, and hard hearts, even likening them to briers and thorns. The purpose of Ezekiel's ministry, as outlined in this verse and reinforced elsewhere (e.g., Ez 33:33), is not necessarily to guarantee immediate repentance from a hardened people, but primarily to ensure that God's word is declared and that the people, upon seeing the fulfillment of prophecy (judgment or restoration), will definitively know that a divine messenger had been among them. This establishes their accountability, proving they were not ignorant of God's will. The exiles held onto false hopes of an imminent return to Judah and failed to grasp the depth of God's displeasure, making Ezekiel's message particularly unpalatable but vitally necessary.
Ezekiel 2 5 Word analysis
- And whether they will hear (וְאִם יִשְׁמְעוּ, ve'im yishma'u): Literally, "and if they will hear." This phrase indicates a conditional possibility and God's foreknowledge of their potential response. It underscores the concept of human volition, that Israel has the choice to listen or not to the divine message, but their choice does not alter God's purpose. The Hebrew verb sham'a often implies not just perceiving sound but also listening attentively and obeying.
- or whether they will forbear (וְאִם יֶחְדָּלוּ, ve'im yechdalu): Literally, "and if they will cease" or "refrain." The Hebrew verb chadal here signifies refusing to listen, holding back from a response, or desisting from giving heed. It highlights their predicted obstinacy and rejection of the prophet's call.
- (for they are a rebellious house) (כִּי בֵּית מֶרִי הֵם, ki beit meri hem): This parenthetical insertion provides the divine rationale for the previous statement. "House" (bayit) refers to the entire nation of Israel. "Rebellious" (meri) describes a consistent, deeply ingrained character of obstinate disobedience and defiance against God. It emphasizes that this is not an occasional lapse but a fundamental disposition of the people. This persistent rebellion makes their refusal to hear a predictable outcome.
- yet shall know (וְיָדְעוּ, ve'yad'u): "And they shall know." This is a certain and decisive future outcome, irrespective of their immediate reaction. The Hebrew verb yada' means to know experientially, intimately, or truly comprehend. This knowledge will not be through their initial listening but through the unfolding of divine events (judgment or vindication), which will validate the prophet's words. It signifies divine certainty and the inevitable confirmation of God's presence and activity.
- that there hath been a prophet among them (כִּי נָבִיא הָיָה בְתוֹכָם, ki navi hayah betocham): "That a prophet was among them." This is the ultimate, undeniable truth that will be revealed. "Prophet" (navi) denotes one called by God to deliver His divine message, often acting as a mouthpiece for the Lord. The point is not merely acknowledging Ezekiel as a person, but recognizing that God Himself was active among them, speaking His word, and making His will known. This knowledge ensures accountability and removes any possibility of claiming ignorance regarding God's warnings or intentions.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear": This phrase beautifully captures the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God knows their heart and likely rebellion, yet the call is still issued, highlighting human agency while affirming God's unfailing purpose to make His word known.
- "for they are a rebellious house": This characterization sets the tone for Ezekiel's entire ministry. It explains the people's expected recalcitrance and underlines the profound spiritual apostasy that pervaded Israel, emphasizing their inherent spiritual opposition to God's will rather than just isolated acts of sin.
- "yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them": This concluding declaration highlights God's ultimate objective: vindication of His prophetic word and the undeniable establishment of human accountability. The future events, particularly the promised judgments or restoration, will serve as incontrovertible proof that God was actively involved in their history, speaking through His messenger, thereby eliminating any pretense of ignorance.
Ezekiel 2 5 Bonus section
- The repetitive use of "rebellious house" throughout Ezekiel (e.g., Ez 2:6, 7, 8; 3:9, 26, 27; 12:2, 3, 9, 25; 24:3) highlights God's clear assessment of His people's spiritual condition, making their expected resistance a central theme of the book and explaining why a messenger was needed.
- This verse encapsulates the persistent biblical theme of accountability: where much is given (divine revelation), much is required, and ultimate knowledge will confirm responsibility, leaving no ground for claiming ignorance.
- The phrase "yet shall know" is part of a foundational "recognition formula" throughout Ezekiel's prophecies, often ending with "and they shall know that I am the LORD" (e.g., Ez 6:7, 10; 7:4, 27; 11:10; 12:15, 20; 13:9; 20:42; 22:16). Here, it specifically pertains to the recognition of the prophet's authenticity as God's instrument. This knowledge comes not from immediate belief but from the painful experience of the prophecy's fulfillment.
- God's foresight of their rebellion did not prevent His commission of Ezekiel, showcasing divine perseverance and unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel, even in judgment.
Ezekiel 2 5 Commentary
Ezekiel 2:5 profoundly illustrates the nature of divine revelation in the face of human intransigence. God's act of sending Ezekiel to a "rebellious house" reveals His steadfast faithfulness in communicating His truth, even when reception is doubtful or overtly rejected. This verse underlines the truth that God's word is never delivered in vain; it accomplishes His purpose whether or not the audience responds with immediate obedience. The critical outcome, "yet shall know," highlights that even if Israel's heart remained hardened during Ezekiel's immediate ministry, the future unfolding of events would undeniably confirm the divine origin and veracity of his pronouncements. This establishes God's justice by ensuring Israel would be left without excuse for their persistent rebellion, having clearly received His warning and guidance through a genuine prophet. The prophet's presence serves as an indelible testimony to God's active involvement in their history, underscoring both His grace in providing a warning and the inevitable accountability that follows rejection of His message.