Ezekiel 3 7

Ezekiel 3:7 kjv

But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

Ezekiel 3:7 nkjv

But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted.

Ezekiel 3:7 niv

But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.

Ezekiel 3:7 esv

But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.

Ezekiel 3:7 nlt

But the people of Israel won't listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn.

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 7 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:7 communicates a stark reality concerning the recipients of God's message through the prophet Ezekiel. It states that the people of Israel will decisively refuse to listen to Ezekiel, not due to any fault in his message, but because their hearts are hardened and they have consistently refused to listen to God Himself. Their deep-seated stubbornness renders them impervious to divine truth, a characteristic already known and lamented by the Lord.

Ezekiel 3 7 Context

Ezekiel chapter 3 describes the continued commission of Ezekiel as a prophet to the exiled house of Israel. Immediately prior to this verse, the Lord empowers Ezekiel, making him "hard of forehead" (Ez 3:8) and "strong of spirit" (Ez 3:9) to withstand the people's opposition. The instruction to Ezekiel in Ez 3:4 to go to the house of Israel "who are not of a foreign tongue or a difficult language" underscores that the message is for their own kin and thus should be readily understood. However, the Lord, with divine foreknowledge, directly informs Ezekiel that despite this, they will refuse to listen. This sets the stage for Ezekiel's arduous and often fruitless ministry, defining the challenging nature of his prophetic calling. The historical context is of Judah in Babylonian exile, a time when many clung to false hopes of a speedy return, denying the severity of their sins which had led to the judgment. Their history was rife with rebellion against God, consistently refusing prophetic warnings.

Ezekiel 3 7 Word analysis

• But (אֲבָל, aval): This conjunction serves as a strong adversative, introducing a contrasting reality. Despite the divine strengthening and clear communication of Ezekiel's call, this word signals the immediate challenge: the audience's deep-seated recalcitrance. It emphasizes the contrast between God's preparation of His prophet and the certain, known resistance from the people.

• the house of Israel (בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, beit Yisrael): This term refers to the entire covenant people of God, emphasizing the corporate identity and shared history of rebellion. It indicates that the problem of hardness of heart is widespread, affecting the nation as a whole, not just a rebellious faction. It encompasses both the Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) kingdoms, referring to the entire collective of the chosen people.

• will not listen (לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ, lo yishma'u): The verb shama (שָׁמַע) means "to hear," but in a biblical context often implies "to obey" or "to heed." The negative "lo" and the imperfect tense convey a certain, persistent future refusal to truly hear and respond obediently. It denotes a deliberate and active choice not to accept, understand, or obey the message.

• to you (אֵלֶיךָ, eileicha): Specifies the prophet Ezekiel as the immediate object of their rejection. This personal rejection, however, is not a failure on Ezekiel's part.

• for they will not listen to me (כִּי אֹתִי אֵינָם שֹׁמְעִים, ki oti einam shome'im): The direct, divine declaration of the reason for their rejection of the prophet. This reveals that their refusal to heed Ezekiel stems from a deeper, fundamental rebellion against God Himself. The word "for" (כִּי, ki) indicates causality, providing the theological root of their behavior. It shows the intimate connection between the prophet and the divine sender: to reject one is to reject the other.

• for the whole house of Israel (כִּי כָּל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, ki kol-beit Yisrael): This repetition reinforces the universality and totality of the problem. It is not an isolated issue but characterizes the entire nation. The use of "kol" (all, whole) underscores the pervasive nature of their spiritual condition.

• is hard-hearted (קְשֵׁי מֵצַח, q'shei metzach): Literally means "hard of forehead" or "stubborn of brow." This imagery suggests an unyielding, unashamed, and defiant attitude that refuses to show shame or contrition. Like a rock-hard forehead that deflects blows, they resist the impact of truth or rebuke. It points to an outward stubbornness.

• and obstinate (קְשֵׁי לֵב, q'shei lev): Literally means "hard of heart." This refers to an internal condition of spiritual insensitivity and unwillingness to receive divine truth or guidance. The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the seat of the will, intellect, and emotion. A "hard heart" implies an unwillingness to respond to God's influence, to repent, or to be tender toward His commands. It is a deeply entrenched resistance, hardening their inner being against divine leading.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "will not listen to you, for they will not listen to me": This crucial parallelism clarifies that rejection of God's prophet is equivalent to rejecting God Himself. It affirms the prophet's divine authority and legitimizes Ezekiel's message, preemptively excusing his future lack of "success" from being a mark against his ministry. Their rebellion against Ezekiel is merely a symptom of their deeper, long-standing rebellion against the Lord.
  • "hard-hearted and obstinate": These two descriptions, though closely related, together present a comprehensive picture of Israel's spiritual state. "Hard-hearted" (q'shei metzach, "hard of forehead") depicts external, defiant stubbornness, a refusal to bow or yield. "Obstinate" (q'shei lev, "hard of heart") signifies internal spiritual insensitivity, a will that resists divine influence and an inability or unwillingness to feel remorse or respond to spiritual promptings. The combination paints a picture of comprehensive and entrenched spiritual rebellion, affecting both their outward demeanor and inner disposition.

Ezekiel 3 7 Bonus section

The revelation in Ezekiel 3:7 regarding Israel's "hard-hearted" and "obstinate" nature not only informs Ezekiel of his challenging mission but also emphasizes the unwavering nature of God's command to deliver the message, regardless of the reception. God's purpose is for His Word to be proclaimed, whether people "hear or refuse to hear" (Ez 2:5, Ez 3:11). This verse highlights the prophetic paradox: God calls prophets to speak to a people whom He knows will not listen, yet He still holds that people accountable for their rebellion and the very word they rejected. This divine patience and continued outreach, despite foreknowledge of rejection, showcases God's faithfulness even when faced with human unfaithfulness, serving both as testimony against the unrighteous and a vindication of God's character.

Ezekiel 3 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:7 serves as a poignant preamble to Ezekiel's prophetic ministry, preparing him for the arduous and often disheartening task ahead. It reveals the divine foreknowledge of human will and provides the underlying reason for Israel's pervasive unbelief: an intrinsic, long-standing spiritual obduracy. This verse is not an excuse for prophetic failure but a declaration of the depth of the nation's spiritual malady, confirming God's righteousness even in judgment. It underscores a key biblical principle: rejecting God's messenger is tantamount to rejecting God Himself. The Lord knew Israel's stubborn nature from generations past (as evidenced throughout the Torah and Prophets), and this verse reaffirms that the present generation maintained that lamentable trait. It illustrates the formidable barrier that spiritual blindness and willful resistance place between a people and the life-giving truth of God's Word, ensuring that Ezekiel understood his burden, yet was freed from self-blame regarding their unresponsive nature.