Ezekiel 2:5-10

2:5 And as for them, ¹  whether they listen ²  or not – for they are a rebellious ³  house ⁴  – 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 ⁵  and thorns ⁶  surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, ⁷  for they are a rebellious house! 2:7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 2:8 As for you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you: Do not rebel like that rebellious house! Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

2:9 Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. 2:10 He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front ⁸  and back; ⁹  written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.

¹ tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.

² tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.

³ tn This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:25 and Isa 30:9.

⁴ 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).

⁵ tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.

⁶ tn The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24.

⁷ tn Heb “of their faces.”

⁸ tn Heb “on the face.”

⁹ sn Written on the front and back. While it was common for papyrus scrolls to have writing on both sides the same was not true for leather scrolls.