Ezekiel 3 10

Ezekiel 3:10 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 3:10 nkjv

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.

Ezekiel 3:10 niv

And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.

Ezekiel 3:10 esv

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.

Ezekiel 3:10 nlt

Then he added, "Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 10 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:10 is a divine command given to the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing the necessity of absolute and internal reception of God's words before they can be effectively delivered to a rebellious people. It highlights a dual aspect of reception: profound inner internalization ("in your heart") and attentive external listening ("with your ears"), ensuring that no part of the divine message is missed or distorted by the prophet. This foundational instruction underscores the prophet's role as a faithful conduit, tasked with faithfully relaying only what the Lord God speaks.

Ezekiel 3 10 Context

Ezekiel 3:10 occurs immediately after the powerful vision of Ezekiel eating the scroll (Ez 3:1-3). This act symbolized the prophet's complete internal absorption and acceptance of God's bitter-sweet message, which included lamentation, mourning, and woe (Ez 2:10). The Lord then gives Ezekiel a further specific instruction on how he is to receive the divine message for its future proclamation. This verse serves as a crucial bridge between the symbolic act of internalizing the word and the practical duty of delivering it. The preceding verses (Ez 3:4-9) highlight the rebellion and hardheartedness of the house of Israel, establishing the immense challenge awaiting Ezekiel and emphasizing the critical need for him to be perfectly aligned with God's word before confronting such an unyielding audience. The surrounding chapters (Ezekiel 1-3) chronicle Ezekiel's commissioning as a watchman and prophet to a nation in exile, burdened by their sin, highlighting the urgent and significant nature of every word God would impart to His messenger.

Ezekiel 3 10 Word analysis

• Moreover, he said to me, - The phrase immediately links this instruction to the previous divine pronouncements to Ezekiel, emphasizing the ongoing nature of God's communication. "He" refers to the Lord God (Yahweh), the supreme authority from whom all true prophetic words originate. This sets the tone for a direct, authoritative command.
• "Son of man," - (Hebrew: ben 'adam, בֶּן־אָדָם) This unique title used frequently throughout Ezekiel, designating him as a human being. It underscores his humanity, fragility, and mortality in contrast to the divine, omnipotent speaker. This contrast highlights that the message is entirely God's, not Ezekiel's own wisdom or power. It also sets Ezekiel apart from the angelic beings or heavenly host often found in divine councils, positioning him squarely as an earthly messenger to his fellow humans.
• "receive" - (Hebrew: qabbel, קַבֵּל) This verb is in the imperative mood, conveying a direct command. It signifies an active process of taking in, accepting, and embracing something. It's stronger than merely "hearing"; it implies acceptance into oneself. This active reception is essential for faithful transmission, especially given the "bitter" nature of part of the message (Ez 3:3). The word connotes a willingness and readiness to take upon oneself.
• "all my words" - (Hebrew: kol d'varai, כָּל־דְּבָרַי) The emphatic "all" (kol) highlights the totality and completeness of the divine revelation. Ezekiel is to omit nothing and add nothing. God's message is integrated, unified, and sovereign; it is not to be selectively filtered by the prophet's personal preferences or the audience's presumed receptivity. This stresses the prophet's responsibility to deliver the whole counsel of God.
• "that I will speak to you" - This clause points to the dynamic and ongoing nature of God's revelation. The words are not just a past transmission but a continuous outpouring from God to Ezekiel. It assures Ezekiel of an inexhaustible source of divine communication and underlines the personal, direct relationship between God and His prophet.
• "and receive them in your heart," - (Hebrew: qabel oto libbkha, קַבֵּל אֹתוֹ בִּלְבָבְךָ) "Heart" (Hebrew: lev or levav) in the biblical context is not merely the seat of emotions but the core of one's being – the center of intellect, will, reason, conscience, memory, and spiritual life. To "receive in your heart" means a profound, internal assimilation, moving beyond mere intellectual understanding or transient hearing. It means the word should settle deep within, becoming a part of one's inner essence, guiding thoughts, motivations, and convictions. This deep internal registration ensures personal conviction and unwavering resolve.
• "and hear with your ears." - (Hebrew: w'oznekha tishma', בְּאָזְנֶיךָ תִּשְׁמָע) While "receive in your heart" signifies internal assimilation, "hear with your ears" (the Hebrew verb shema, שָׁמַע, encompasses not just audible perception but also attentive listening that leads to obedience) emphasizes the external, active, and diligent attention to God's spoken word. This is not redundant; it underlines that true reception involves both deep inward internalization (heart) and precise outward perception (ears). It ensures that no nuance or instruction of the divine message is missed, fostering a complete understanding that facilitates faithful delivery and righteous conduct.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Son of man, receive all my words": This foundational instruction establishes the absolute dependence of the prophet on divine revelation. Ezekiel's identity as "Son of man" highlights his humble position before the magnitude and totality of God's truth.
• "receive them in your heart, and hear with your ears": This pairing illustrates the comprehensive nature of true reception. The "heart" implies deep, internal conviction, personal ownership, and the will to obey, transforming the message into part of one's identity. The "ears" denote active, focused listening and external comprehension, ensuring accuracy and precision in understanding God's explicit commands. Together, they form a perfect model of holistic spiritual reception, embodying both intellectual apprehension and profound spiritual internalization.

Ezekiel 3 10 Bonus section

This verse highlights a key aspect of true spiritual leadership and discipleship: before one can effectively declare God's word to others, it must first be deeply assimilated within oneself. It’s not enough to simply hear God's words; they must penetrate the core of one's being, becoming an intrinsic part of one's convictions and identity. This process often involves wrestling with difficult truths (like the "bitter" aspect of the scroll) and aligning one's will with God's. This instruction also implicitly guards against false prophecy, where human ideas or desires replace God's precise words. Ezekiel is given specific and repetitive instructions to prevent him from speaking his own thoughts rather than the pure divine message. The emphasis on "all my words" sets a precedent for respecting the entirety of Scripture.

Ezekiel 3 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:10 distills the essence of faithful prophetic ministry: it demands complete absorption of God's revelation. Following the symbolic eating of the scroll, which visually represented the ingestion of the divine message (Ez 3:1-3), this verse provides explicit instructions on how Ezekiel is to sustain this internal absorption. God emphasizes a two-fold process of reception: intellectually via "ears" and existentially via the "heart." The "heart" (biblical lev) is the seat of the inner person – mind, will, and affections – implying a processing that moves beyond mere cognition to deep conviction and assimilation. The "ears" signify diligent, accurate auditory reception. This duality ensures that Ezekiel grasps not just the meaning of the words but also their full implications, integrating them into the fabric of his being. This thorough preparation is crucial for a prophet facing an obstinate audience, guaranteeing that the delivered message is truly God's, spoken from a place of deep personal identification with His truth. It sets a pattern for all who would declare God's word, emphasizing a prior deep reception of divine truth over personal opinion or rhetorical skill.