Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 3
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezekiel 3
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezekiel 3
"And he said unto me, Son of man, eat that which thou findest; eat this roll, and go, speak unto the house of Israel." — Ezekiel 3:1 (ASV)
Previously, there was a direct commission; now there is a symbolic action. John has the same vision (Revelation 10:8 and following), but in that vision, what is here left to be inferred is expressed there, namely, that as soon as he had eaten it his belly was bitter. The sweetness in the mouth denoted that it was good to be a messenger of the Lord (compare the marginal reference), but the bitterness that accompanied it denoted that the commission brought with it much sorrow.
"not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee." — Ezekiel 3:6 (ASV)
To many people - To various nations using diverse languages.
Surely - The thought is that expressed by our Savior Himself (margin reference). Some render it: but I have sent you to these; they can listen etc.
"Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads." — Ezekiel 3:8 (ASV)
I have made ... thy forehead strong - I have given you a strength superior to theirs; a metaphor taken from horned animals.
"As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." — Ezekiel 3:9 (ASV)
Adamant - Or, diamond (Jeremiah 17:1), which was used to cut flint. Ezekiel’s firmness, being like that of a diamond, meant he was to penetrate the hardened hearts of a rebellious people. For “though” read “for.”
"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 Jehovah; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." — Ezekiel 3:11 (ASV)
Your people - God’s people.
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