The Bible — World English Bible

Ezekiel 2

In brief

In Ezekiel 2, God speaks to the prophet, whom he calls son of man, while he is lying face down. He tells him to stand up, and the Spirit enters him and sets him on his feet. God then sends him to the people of Israel, a rebellious nation with hardened hearts, with no guarantee that they will listen. He tells him not to be afraid and not to be rebellious like them. A hand then holds out a scroll covered with lamentations, to be received before he speaks.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-2God speaks, and the Spirit raises the prophet up
  2. v. 3-5Sent to a rebellious people
  3. v. 6-7Do not fear, and speak my words
  4. v. 8-10The scroll written on the inside and the outside

1He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”

2The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me.

3He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me even to this very day.

4The children are impudent and stiff-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says.’

5They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse, for they are a rebellious house, yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them.

6You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

7You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse; for they are most rebellious.

8But you, son of man, hear what I tell you. Don’t be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.”

9When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was in it.

10He spread it before me. It was written within and without; and lamentations, mourning, and woe were written in it.

Key verses

Verse 2
The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me.

The prophet does not get up by his own strength: the Spirit enters him and puts him on his feet. God's call comes with the strength to answer it.

Verse 5
They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse, for they are a rebellious house, yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them.

God does not send Ezekiel with a promise of success. Whether they listen or not, they will know that a prophet has been among them: the faithfulness of the messenger matters more than the response.

Verse 6
You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

God tells him not to be afraid more than once, in spite of briers, thorns and scorpions. Fear of faces and of harsh words must not silence the word he has been given.

Verse 8
But you, son of man, hear what I tell you. Don’t be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.”

Before he speaks, the prophet must listen and receive. He is asked not to be rebellious like those he is sent to, and to take in what God gives him.

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What the sermons say

I Can't Stay Here: Dare to Take the Step of FaithEarl McClellan points to verse 2: the Spirit entered the prophet and set him on his feet. Faced with a list of steps to follow, he invites us instead to live an experience of the Spirit, who gives the strength to take the step.Read the summary →I Can't Stay Here: Dare to Take the First StepThe same message, taken up by Momentum Church, connects Ezekiel 2:2 with the day of Pentecost: the Spirit who lifts a person up, followed by the power promised to the disciples.Read the summary →A Firm Heart to Walk with God: 5 Reasons It WaversJoão Ahlin reads verses 1 and 2 as an example of strength that comes with instruction: the Spirit enters to give the ability to obey, and he invites us to pray for a steadfast heart.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Ezekiel 2

What does “son of man” mean in Ezekiel 2?

God calls Ezekiel son of man throughout the book. The phrase stresses that he is a mere human being before the God who sends him: his mission rests not on his greatness but on the word of God. Later, Jesus takes this title for himself in the Gospels.

What is the main message of Ezekiel 2?

God calls a prophet, raises him up by his Spirit and sends him to proclaim his word to a rebellious people, without promising that they will listen. The chapter teaches that faithfulness in passing on what God says matters more than the welcome received, and that God gives the strength to obey.

What does the scroll in Ezekiel 2 represent?

The scroll, written on both sides and filled with lamentations, mourning and woe, points to the seriousness of the message to be carried: a judgment on a people who have drifted from God. The prophet must first receive it before passing it on, and the next chapter tells how he eats it.

Articles quoting Ezekiel 2

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World English Bible translation — public domain.