Ezekiel 3

Ezekiel's Call

1 And he said to me, c "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. t Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." u Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth v as sweet as honey.

4 And he said to me, w "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel - 6 not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. x Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7 y But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel z have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. 8 a Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like b emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. c Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house." 10 Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, d all my words that I shall speak to you receive e in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 And go to the exiles, f to your people, and speak to them and say to them, g 'Thus says the Lord God,' h whether they hear or refuse to hear."

12 i Then the Spirit 1 lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice 2 of j a great earthquake: "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!" 13 It was the sound of the wings of k the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of l a great earthquake. 14 m The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the n hand of the Lord being strong upon me. 15 o And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling o by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. 3 And p I sat there q overwhelmed among them r seven days.

A Watchman for Israel

16 s And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 t "Son of man, u I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall v give them warning from me. 18 w If I say to the wicked, x 'You shall surely die,' v and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person y shall die for 4 his iniquity, z but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 a But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, b but you c will have delivered your soul. 20 d Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, e and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. v Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, d and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, z but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul."

22 f And the hand of the Lord was upon me there. And he said to me, "Arise, go out into g the valley, 5 and h there I will speak with you." 23 So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, i the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I had seen j by the Chebar canal, i and I fell on my face. 24 k But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, "Go, shut yourself within your house. 25 And you, O son of man, behold, l cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that m you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, n for they are a rebellious house. 27 o But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, p 'Thus says the Lord God.' q He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

  1. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:1
    And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.
  2. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:8
    "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
  3. Cross References
    Jeremiah 15:16
    Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
    Revelation 10:9 - 10
    So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 19:10
    More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
    Psalms 119:103
    How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
  5. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:1
    And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 11:21
    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
    Matthew 11:23
    And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
  7. Cross References
    John 15:20
    Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
  8. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:4
    The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 1:18
    And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
  10. Cross References
    Isaiah 50:7
    But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
  11. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:6
    And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
  12. Cross References
    Jeremiah 26:2
    Thus says the Lord : Stand in the court of the Lord 's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.
  13. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:3
    And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
  14. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:2
    Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman.
    Ezekiel 33:12
    And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins.
    Ezekiel 33:17
    Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just,' when it is their own way that is not just.
    Ezekiel 33:30
    "As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, 'Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.'
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:27
    But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
  16. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:7
    And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
  17. Cross References
    Ezekiel 8:3
    He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.
    Ezekiel 11:1
    The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
    Ezekiel 11:24
    And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.
    Ezekiel 43:5
    The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
    Ezekiel 37:1
    The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
  18. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:24
    And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.
  19. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:5
    And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness.
    Ezekiel 1:15
    Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:24
    And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.
  21. Cross References
    Ezekiel 8:3
    He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.
    Ezekiel 11:1
    The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
    Ezekiel 11:24
    And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.
    Ezekiel 43:5
    The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
    Ezekiel 37:1
    The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
  22. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:3
    The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.
  23. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:1
    In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
  24. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:1
    In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
  25. Cross References
    Job 2:13
    And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
    Psalms 137:1
    By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
    Lamentations 2:10
    The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth; the young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.
  26. Cross References
    Ezekiel 4:17
    I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment.
    Isaiah 52:14
    As many were astonished at you - his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind -
    Jeremiah 14:9
    Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 50:10
    When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
    1 Samuel 31:13
    And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
  28. Cross References
    Jeremiah 42:7
    At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
  29. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:1
    And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.
  30. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:7
    So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
    Isaiah 52:8
    The voice of your watchmen - they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
    Isaiah 56:10
    His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
    Jeremiah 6:17
    I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not pay attention.
    Hebrews 13:17
    Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
  31. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:10
    Whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt.
    2 Kings 6:10
    And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
    Ezekiel 3:18 - 21
    If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
    Ezekiel 33:4 - 6
    Then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
  32. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:8
    If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
  33. Cross References
    Genesis 2:17
    But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
  34. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:17
    Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
  35. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:18
    As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
    Jeremiah 31:30
    But everyone shall die for his own sin. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
    John 8:21
    So he said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.
    John 8:24
    I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.
  36. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:20
    Again, if a righteous person turns from his rig...
    Ezekiel 33:6
    But if the watchman sees the sword coming and d...
    Ezekiel 33:8
    If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall...
    Ezekiel 34:10
    Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against th...
    Ezekiel 18:13
    Lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he t...
    Acts 18:6
    And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook...
    Acts 20:26
    Therefore I testify to you this day that I am i...
  37. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:9
    But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
  38. Cross References
    1 Timothy 4:16
    Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
  39. Cross References
    Ezekiel 14:14
    Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God.
    Ezekiel 14:20
    Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.
  40. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:24
    But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
  41. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:24
    But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
  42. Cross References
    Jeremiah 6:21
    Therefore thus says the Lord : 'Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.'
  43. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:17
    Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
  44. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:18
    If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
  45. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:3
    The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.
  46. Cross References
    Ezekiel 8:4
    And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.
    Ezekiel 37:1
    The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
    Genesis 11:2
    And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
  47. Cross References
    Acts 9:6
    But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
    Acts 22:10
    And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.
  48. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:28
    Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
  49. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:28
    Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
  50. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:1
    In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
  51. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:2
    And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
  52. Cross References
    Ezekiel 4:8
    And behold, I will place cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege.
  53. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:16
    Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples.
  54. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:3
    And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
  55. Cross References
    Ezekiel 24:27
    On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.
    Ezekiel 29:21
    "On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord."
  56. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:11
    And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God,' whether they hear or refuse to hear.
  57. Cross References
    Revelation 22:11
    Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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