Ezekiel 2:5-8

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.”

Ezekiel 3:9

3:9 I have made your forehead harder than flint – like diamond! ⁸  Do not fear them or be terrified of the looks they give you, ⁹  for they are a rebellious house.”

Ezekiel 3:26-27

3:26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to reprove ¹⁰  them, for they are a rebellious house. 3:27 But when I speak with you, I will loosen your tongue ¹¹  and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’ Those who listen will listen, but the indifferent will refuse, ¹²  for they are a rebellious house.

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 The Hebrew term translated “diamond” is parallel to “iron” in Jer 17:1. The Hebrew uses two terms which are both translated at times as “flint,” but here one is clearly harder than the other. The translation “diamond” attempts to reflect this distinction in English.

⁹ tn Heb “of their faces.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “you will not be to them a reprover.” In Isa 29:21 and Amos 5:10 “a reprover” issued rebuke at the city gate.

¹¹ tn Heb “open your mouth.”

¹² tn Heb “the listener will listen, the refuser will refuse.” Because the word for listening can also mean obeying, the nuance may be that the obedient will listen, or that the one who listens will obey. Also, although the verbs are not jussive as pointed in the MT, some translate them with a volitive sense: “the one who listens – let that one listen, the one who refuses – let that one refuse.”