Ezekiel 2:7

2:7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

Ezekiel 2:5

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.

Ezekiel 3:11

3:11 Go to the exiles, to your fellow countrymen, ⁵  and speak to them – say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says,’ whether they pay attention or not.”

Ezekiel 3:27

3:27 But when I speak with you, I will loosen your tongue ⁶  and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’ Those who listen will listen, but the indifferent will refuse, ⁷  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).

¹ tn Heb “to the sons of your people.”

¹ tn Heb “open your mouth.”

² 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.”