Ezekiel 2:4-7

2:4 The people ¹  to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, ²  and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’ ³  2:5 And as for them, ⁴  whether they listen ⁵  or not – for they are a rebellious ⁶  house ⁷  – they will know that a prophet has been among them. 2:6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words – even though briers ⁸  and thorns ⁹  surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, ¹⁰  for they are a rebellious house! 2:7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

¹ tn Heb “sons.” The word choice may reflect treaty idiom, where the relationship between an overlord and his subjects can be described as that of father and son.

² tc Heb “stern of face and hard of heart.” The phrases “stern of face” and “hard of heart” are lacking in the LXX.

³ tn The phrase “thus says [the Lord]” occurs 129 times in Ezekiel; the announcement is identical to the way messengers often introduced their messages (Gen 32:5; 45:9; Exod 5:10; Num 20:14; Judg 11:15).

⁴ tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.

⁶ tn This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:25 and Isa 30:9.

⁷ sn The book of Ezekiel frequently refers to the Israelites as a rebellious house (Ezek 2:5, 6, 8; 3:9, 26-27; 12:2-3, 9, 25; 17:12; 24:3).

⁸ tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.

⁹ tn The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24.

¹⁰ tn Heb “of their faces.”