Ezekiel 3 1

Ezekiel 3:1 kjv

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 3:1 nkjv

Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."

Ezekiel 3:1 niv

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."

Ezekiel 3:1 esv

And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."

Ezekiel 3:1 nlt

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."

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 1 Meaning

The verse marks a pivotal moment in Ezekiel's prophetic calling. God commands Ezekiel to metaphorically consume a scroll, which represents God's divine word and message. This act signifies the prophet's deep internalization and absorption of the message—making it an integral part of his being—before he is to deliver it verbally to the rebellious house of Israel. The command underscores the personal and intimate nature of receiving God's revelation, a necessary precursor to its authentic proclamation.

Ezekiel 3 1 Context

This verse is at the very beginning of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry, directly following his dramatic vision of God's glory and his initial commissioning in chapter 1 and 2. Having been explicitly chosen and endowed with a challenging message in chapter 2, Ezekiel 3:1 immediately thrusts him into the act of receiving that message. Historically, Ezekiel is among the exiles in Babylon (597 BC), prophesying to a disheartened and often rebellious people who have been removed from their land due to their unfaithfulness to God. The immediate context of chapter 2 describes the "roll of a book" being handed to him, written "within and without" with "lamentations, and mourning, and woe," signifying the harsh truth and impending judgment God intends to deliver. This verse thus solidifies the prophet's personal intake of the weighty divine pronouncements before he becomes God's mouthpiece to the covenant nation, preparing him for the immense task ahead amidst profound spiritual darkness and false hopes.

Ezekiel 3 1 Word analysis

• Moreover he said unto me: Emphasizes the continuity of God's direct communication and instruction to Ezekiel, building on the preceding revelations. It underscores the divine initiative in the prophetic call.
• Son of man: Hebrew ben-'adam. This specific address from God to Ezekiel highlights Ezekiel's human nature and mortality, contrasting with God's transcendent power and majesty. It serves as a constant reminder of his status as a frail human vessel carrying an all-powerful divine message. Simultaneously, it connects him to all humanity for whom the message is intended. It's used 93 times in Ezekiel, making it a signature address for the prophet.
• eat: Hebrew 'akhal. This is not a literal physical consumption, but a profound symbolic act. It signifies the complete absorption, internalization, and assimilation of God's message. It implies making the word part of one's inner being, digestively embracing its full content, including its difficult truths, before proclamation.
• that thou findest; eat this roll: Hebrew et-hammegillah hazzo'th. The "roll" or "scroll" represents the divinely revealed message and written word from God (as described in Ez 2:9-10, filled with "lamentations, mourning, and woe"). The double command to "eat that thou findest" and "eat this roll" stresses the specific object of consumption—the entirety of God's revealed message.
• and go: Hebrew ve-lekh. This simple command signifies immediate obedience and active participation in the prophetic mission. It implies movement and dispatch, from receiving the word to delivering it.
• speak: Hebrew dabber. To utter, proclaim, declare. It emphasizes the active oral delivery of the absorbed message. The message is not merely for private meditation but for public proclamation to the target audience.
• unto the house of Israel: Hebrew 'el-beth yisra'el. The specific audience of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry: the covenant people of God, though they are often described as rebellious, hard-hearted, and obstinate. It highlights the target and divine focus of the message.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Son of man, eat this roll": This phrase encapsulates the core action and the recipient. It points to a human prophet divinely tasked with absorbing sacred text. This spiritual nourishment is foundational before any outward ministry can occur.
• "eat that thou findest; eat this roll": The repetition reinforces the specific content and the method of internalization. "That thou findest" could suggest taking what is available from God, emphasizing God's provision of the word. "This roll" then specifically identifies the divine source and complete form of that word.
• "eat this roll, and go speak": This establishes a direct sequence and necessary relationship: internalization (eating) precedes outward action (going and speaking). One cannot faithfully proclaim God's word without first having deeply received and assimilated it personally. It is the necessary preparation for ministry.
• "and go speak unto the house of Israel": This defines the prophet's mission, audience, and responsibility. The "go" signifies obedience and outreach; "speak" implies articulation; and "house of Israel" clarifies the specific, challenging, but ultimately chosen people to whom God directs His message.

Ezekiel 3 1 Bonus section

• The nature of the scroll (lamentations, mourning, woe) indicates the difficult and severe message Ezekiel was tasked with delivering, challenging the false optimism of the exiles. Despite the initial bitterness of the message, the act of receiving it from God could be inherently sweet (compare with Rev 10:10 where it's sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach).
• The consistent address "Son of man" serves not only as a reminder of Ezekiel's humanity but also subtly prepares the reader for the ultimate "Son of Man," Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied God's word and perfectly delivered it to humanity.
• The call to eat the scroll emphasizes the authority and sufficiency of the written Word of God as the sole source of the prophet's message. Ezekiel was not to speak from his own ideas but entirely from God's revelation.
• This verse represents a microcosm of how God commissions His servants: a divine call, an internal absorption of His truth, and then an outward proclamation of that truth to a specified people. This pattern is echoed throughout biblical narratives of prophetic calling.

Ezekiel 3 1 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:1 unveils a foundational principle for prophetic ministry and, by extension, all service to God: the prerequisite of internalizing God's word before its proclamation. The symbolic act of eating the scroll emphasizes that God's message is not to be merely read or recited but absorbed into the prophet's very being. This ensures that the prophet's subsequent delivery is not merely an external utterance but flows from a deep, personal understanding and commitment to the divine truth, regardless of how challenging or bitter that truth might be. The explicit command to "go speak unto the house of Israel" underscores that this profound personal reception is solely for the purpose of communicating God's will to His people. It highlights the divine sender, the human messenger, and the specific intended audience, laying the groundwork for all Ezekiel's subsequent prophecies. The obedience to this command signifies a readiness to deliver even difficult messages for God's purposes.