*THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
EZEKIEL

Ezekiel 2

1Ezekiel's commission: 6his instructions. 9The roll of heavy judgments spread before him.


1AND 1he said unto me, 2Son of man, 3stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

1 Namely, He Whose voice he had heard, Ezek. 1:28, Who no doubt was He Who sat upon the throne, Ezek. 1:26.

2 Thus the Lord calls him, lest he would lift up himself through the excellent revelation of the heavenly vision before described, but rather humble himself by the consideration of his human infirmity. This name also served for comfort unto the prophet; as if God said: I know that thou art but a weak man, and therefore art afraid of My majesty, yea, that thou also shalt be vexed by reason of the derisions that shall befall thee from the Jews; but look unto Me Who call thee unto this office, and not upon thyself, who art but a weak, frail man.

3 For, the prophet was fallen down upon his face, affrighted by the terrible vision which was shown unto him.

2And 4the spirit entereda into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard 5him that spake unto me.

4 Understand the Spirit of God, Who enabled him to do that which God commanded him, Isa. 48:16; 61:1. Also Ezek. 3:24.

a Ezek. 3:24; Dan. 10:10.

5 Namely, the Lord, Who sat upon the throne.

3And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the 6children of Israel, to a rebellious 7nation that hath rebelled against me: theyb and their fathers have transgressed against me, even 8unto this very day.

6 Understand the Jews, who were carried away captive with Jehoiachin out of their own country Judea into Babylon, Ezek. 3:11, howbeit among them may also be comprehended the ten tribes who were scattered out of their own land among the heathen. Some understand thereby also the Jews who still dwelt in their own country, to whom the prophet Jeremiah was sent of God.

7 Here is the word gojim, signifying Gentiles. The Lord seems to call His people here as such, because they were so far departed from Him by idolatry as that they were no better than the Gentiles; although it is also attributed to the Israelites in a good sense, Exod. 19:6; Joshua 3:17; 5:8, etc.

b Jer. 3:25.

8 Hebr. unto the bone or being of this very day. Also Gen. 7:13; 17:26; Lev. 23:14; Ezek. 24:2; 40:1.

4For they are 9impudent children and 10stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, 11Thus saith the Lord GOD.

9 That is, without shame. Compare Jer. 3:3; 5:3; Ezek. 3:7.

10 The stiff of heart are those who stiffen or harden their hearts; who these are, see Exod. 4 on verse 21.

11 This was usually the preface of the prophets when they were to declare something according to God’s command. Now Ezekiel, being called to be a prophet, is hereby authorized to speak thus, and he is also engaged to speak nothing else than what God had spoken to him.

5And they, 12whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a 13rebellious house,) 14yetc shall know that there hath been 15a prophet among them.

12 The Lord will have the prophet only to look upon His charge and not upon the outcome. Also verse 7; Ezek. 3:11, 27.

13 Hebr. a house of rebellion, namely, against the Lord their God. House for people, also verse 6; Ezek. 3:26, 27, etc. Likewise children of rebellion, Num. 17:10, a people of rebellion, Isa. 30:9.

14 That is, being convinced that the Lord has warned them by His servant and exhorted them to repentance, and yet remaining obstinate and hardened, they are utterly left without excuse.

c Ezek. 33:33.

15 That is, a person immediately sent by God to declare His will, to raise up the decayed state of the church, to threaten the wicked, to comfort the godly, to prophecy things to come, especially concerning the Messiah, and also to exhort political and civil persons concerning their office, etc.

6¶And thou, son of man, bed not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and 16thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among 17scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nore be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

d Jer. 1:8, 17; Luke 12:4.

16 Understand men, who prick and hurt, either with words or deeds.

17 Other, thistles. Understand very crafty and mischievous men, who know cunningly to shoot out the destructive poison of their malice and wickedness.

e Ezek. 3:9; 1 Peter 3:14.

7And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most 18rebellious.

18 Hebr. rebellion. Also Prov. 17:11, and here in the next verse. Compare Job 24 on verse 20; Job 35 on verse 13.

8But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, andf19eat that I give thee.

f Rev. 10:9.

19 By this sign the prophetical office is delivered unto Ezekiel, and he is charged thereby, not only to hear the revelations of God readily and willingly, but also to ponder them diligently, and to discharge them faithfully. Thus other men of God were also installed and confirmed in their office by certain signs. See Exod. 4:2, 3, 4; Isa. 6:6, 7; Jer. 1:9; Rev. 10:8, 9, 10.

9¶And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a 20roll of a book was therein;

20 Or, a letter rolled together. In former times writings or books were fastened together in paper or parchment, wrapped round about a stick and rolled together; by reason whereof they were called a roll. See Psalm 40 on verse 7. Likewise Ezra 6 on verse 2; Isa. 8:1; 34:4; Jer. 36:2.

10And he spread it before me; and 21it was written 22within and without: and there was written therein 23lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

21 Namely, the roll of the book.

22 This signified that the judgments which God would send upon the Jews were manifold.

23 Namely, which signified the miserable condition that would befall the Jews by God’s just judgment.