Ezekiel 3

Ezek 3, Eze 3, Ezk 3


Ezekiel 3

1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.

2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;

6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.

11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.

13 I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.

14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.



15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

23 Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.

25 But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

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Summary and the Meaning of the Chapter 3 of the Book of Ezekiel in the KJV Holy Bible

Chapter 3 of the Book of Ezekiel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible presents a compelling sequence of events where God commissions Ezekiel as a prophet to the Israelites, who were then in exile in Babylon. This chapter is a continuation of the divine vision that started in Chapter 1 and continued through Chapter 2. It is primarily structured around the themes of divine calling, responsibility, and warning.

The chapter begins with God instructing Ezekiel to eat a scroll that lay before him. The scroll, filled with lamentations, mourning, and woe, symbolizes the message of God that Ezekiel was to convey to the people of Israel. Ezekiel obeys and finds that the scroll tastes as sweet as honey, an experience that underscores the paradoxical nature of his prophetic calling. On one hand, it is a bitter task filled with sorrow and grief, and on the other hand, it is a sweet privilege to be chosen as God’s messenger.

The Divine Calling and the Responsibility of the Prophet

Ezekiel’s calling is not just to prophesy but to warn the Israelites of the consequences of their disobedience. God makes it clear that the success of Ezekiel’s mission is not measured by the response of his audience, but by his faithfulness in delivering God’s message. Whether the Israelites hear or refuse to hear, Ezekiel’s responsibility is to make them know that a prophet has been among them.

God further instructs Ezekiel that he is a watchman for the house of Israel. As a watchman, his duty is to warn the wicked from their wicked way, to save their life. If he fails to deliver the warning, he would be held accountable for their death. But if he warns the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness, they will die in their iniquity, but Ezekiel would have delivered his soul.

This watchman imagery emphasizes the gravity and urgency of Ezekiel’s mission. It underscores the life-and-death stakes involved in his calling and the moral responsibility it entails. It also reminds us that God’s word, while it promises blessing for obedience, also warns of judgment for disobedience.

The Paradox of the Prophet’s Task

Ezekiel’s experience of eating the scroll reveals the paradox of his task. The message of lamentation, mourning, and woe is bitter to digest, yet it tastes sweet as honey in his mouth. This reflects the dual nature of God’s word as both a comforting assurance and a distressing warning. It also suggests that the fulfillment of God’s word, even when it involves judgment and suffering, ultimately leads to the sweetness of divine truth and righteousness.

Moreover, the act of eating the scroll signifies Ezekiel’s internalization of God’s word. He does not just speak the word, but absorbs it into his being, embodying its message in his life and ministry. This is a powerful reminder that the task of the prophet is not merely to convey God’s word, but to live it out in their own life.

The Challenging Audience and the Prophet’s Resolve

God warns Ezekiel that he is being sent to a rebellious nation, who will not be willing to listen to him because they are not willing to listen to God. Yet, Ezekiel is not to be afraid of their words or their looks. This paints a realistic picture of the hostility and resistance that prophets often face, and the courage and perseverance required to fulfill their calling.

Ezekiel’s response to this challenging task is one of humble obedience and determined resolve. He goes to the exiles at Tel-abib and sits among them for seven days, deeply distressed. This period of silent mourning reflects his empathetic identification with the people’s suffering and his deep sorrow over their impending judgment.

Yet, even in this state of distress, Ezekiel remains committed to his mission. When the hand of the Lord falls upon him again, he rises to his feet, ready to speak whatever word God gives him. This shows his unwavering dedication to his prophetic calling, despite its heavy burdens and daunting challenges.

Conclusion: The Relevance of Ezekiel’s Message Today

The Chapter 3 of the Book of Ezekiel offers profound insights into the nature of divine calling and the responsibility of the prophet. It highlights the importance of faithfulness in delivering God’s message, regardless of the audience’s response. It also emphasizes the dual role of God’s word as both a warning and a promise, and the need for the prophet to embody this word in their life and ministry.

In today’s context, Ezekiel’s message serves as a reminder of our responsibility to heed God’s word and to share it with others, even when it is not popular or convenient. It challenges us to internalize God’s word, to live it out in our lives, and to bear witness to its truth, regardless of the cost. In doing so, it invites us to participate in God’s redemptive mission in the world, and to taste the sweetness of his truth and righteousness, even in the midst of lamentation, mourning, and woe.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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