Ezekiel 2 8

Ezekiel 2:8 kjv

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

Ezekiel 2:8 nkjv

But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

Ezekiel 2:8 niv

But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

Ezekiel 2:8 esv

"But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

Ezekiel 2:8 nlt

Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you."

Ezekiel 2 verses

Ezekiel 2 8 Meaning

Ezekiel 2:8 is a direct divine imperative to the prophet Ezekiel, contrasting him sharply with the rebellious house of Israel. God commands Ezekiel to be obedient and receptive to His word, unlike the stubborn people to whom he is sent. The instruction "open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee" signifies the prophet's personal and complete internalization and assimilation of God's message, including its difficult content, before delivering it.

Ezekiel 2 8 Context

Ezekiel 2:8 occurs immediately after God commissions Ezekiel as a prophet to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. In the preceding verses (Ez 2:3-7), God repeatedly characterizes the "house of Israel" as a "rebellious nation" and a "rebellious house," highlighting their stiff-necked and impudent nature, disobedient even in exile. God had just filled Ezekiel with His Spirit, setting him on his feet to receive the divine word. The imperative in verse 8 is therefore a stark command for the prophet himself to embody immediate and complete obedience, directly contrasting with the widespread rebellion of the people he is called to address. It's a foundational instruction before the prophet receives the specific content of his message (the scroll in Ez 2:9-10). Historically, this occurred during the Babylonian exile, a period of severe divine judgment where Israel's continued rebellion demonstrated their deeply entrenched sin despite the suffering.

Ezekiel 2 8 Word analysis

• But thou: Hebrew: אַתָּה (attah). This is an emphatic singular pronoun "you." Its placement at the beginning creates a strong contrast between Ezekiel and the "rebellious house" just mentioned. It highlights a personal, direct call for obedience to the prophet, distinguishing him from the nation's prevailing spirit.
• son of man: Hebrew: בֶּן-אָדָם (ben-adam). A consistent divine address for Ezekiel throughout the book (used 93 times). It underscores Ezekiel's humanity, mortality, and dependence on God, especially in the presence of overwhelming divine glory and a difficult prophetic task. It humbly reminds the prophet that he is but a mortal being, appointed by the sovereign God. This differentiates him from the messianic "Son of Man" in Daniel and the New Testament.
• hear what I say unto thee: Hebrew: שְׁמַע אֶת אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ (shema et asher adaber eleicha). "Hear" (shema) in Hebrew context signifies not merely listening but actively receiving and obeying. It emphasizes God's sovereign communication and the prophet's necessary receptivity. This is the bedrock of Israel's covenant relationship with God (e.g., Deut 6:4).
• Be not thou rebellious: Hebrew: לֹא-תִהְיֶה כְּבֵית הַמֶּרִי (lo tihiye chevêt hammeriy). A direct prohibition and severe warning. Meri (מֶרִי) means rebellion, stubbornness, or disobedience. It emphasizes the profound seriousness of mirroring the attitude of the very people God is condemning. The prophet's integrity hinges on his own alignment with God's will.
• like that rebellious house: Refers explicitly to "the house of Israel" (Ez 2:3, 5, 6, 7). This highlights their consistent state of disobedience, described as stiff-necked and hardened. The warning serves as a specific reminder of the pervasive nature of this rebellion among God's chosen people, contrasting sharply with the expectation for Ezekiel.
• open thy mouth: Hebrew: פְּתַח פִּיךָ (petach pika). This is a preparatory command for the subsequent symbolic act. It signifies readiness, willingness, and a posture of reception. It indicates that Ezekiel must actively engage in receiving God's word, not merely be a passive recipient.
• and eat that I give thee: Hebrew: וֶאֱכֹל אֵת אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן אֵלֶיךָ (v’echol et asher ani noten eleicha).
  • eat: This physical action serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual internalization. It means to fully absorb, digest, and make God's word an integral part of one's being and identity. This process prepares the prophet to deliver a message that he has first processed internally, making it personally significant.
  • that I give thee: Underscores the divine origin and authority of the message. It is God's word, not Ezekiel's own thought or human wisdom. It's a divine gift and command that comes with a specific content—the scroll detailed in Ez 2:9-10—filled with "lamentations and mourning and woe," yet also the life-giving essence of God's communication. This consumption makes the word not only an external decree but an internalized conviction for the prophet.

Ezekiel 2 8 Bonus section

• Symbolic Prophetic Action: Eating the scroll is an example of symbolic actions God commanded His prophets to perform. These actions were vivid visual aids not only for the prophet himself to grasp the message but also for the often dull-hearted audience to potentially comprehend the profound truths being conveyed.
• Preparation for Bitter Message: While Ezekiel 2:8 commands him to eat, the content of the scroll in Ezekiel 2:10 is described as containing "lamentations, and mourning, and woe." This foretells that while receiving God's word might be "sweet" (as it often is, cf. Ez 3:3, Ps 119:103) because it is from God, its message, especially to a rebellious people, would be difficult and lead to suffering.
• Contrast with Worldly Sustenance: Just as physical food sustains the body, God's word sustains the spiritual life (cf. Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4). The command to eat God's word positions it as essential for the prophet's spiritual well-being and ability to function in his divine calling, implicitly contrasting it with relying on human wisdom or desires.
• Precedent for New Testament Ministry: This act prefigures the profound importance placed on consuming and obeying God's Word in the New Testament for all believers and particularly for ministers of the Gospel, as seen in John's experience in Revelation 10:9-10.

Ezekiel 2 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 2:8 forms a pivotal command in Ezekiel's prophetic commissioning. God addresses Ezekiel with a clear contrast to the stubborn Israel, demanding singular obedience from His prophet. The imperative "be not thou rebellious" directly challenges Ezekiel to stand apart from the pervasive spiritual malaise of his people. The most striking element is the command to "open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee." This is no mere academic exercise but a deeply personal, symbolic act representing the complete internalization of God's word. The word of God is depicted not as something merely to be heard or read, but to be absorbed into one's very being, becoming part of the prophet himself. This intimate act of "eating" equips Ezekiel internally to speak forth a message—which will later prove to be difficult, even bitter in content—with divine authority and conviction. It highlights that true ministry flows from an intimate absorption of the divine will.

• Example: For modern believers, this means we must not merely listen to sermons or read Scripture passively but actively meditate upon, understand, and allow God's Word to shape our thoughts and actions, even when it challenges us or calls us to deliver difficult truths. It becomes our very sustenance.