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Ezekiel 2:4-6
New English Translation
Ezekiel 2:4-6
New English Translation
4 The people[a] to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted,[b] and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’[c] 5 And as for them,[d] whether they listen[e] or not—for they are a rebellious[f] house[g]—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words. Even though briers[h] and thorns[i] surround you and you live among scorpions—do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you,[j] for they are a rebellious house!
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- Ezekiel 2:4 tn Heb “sons.” The word choice may reflect treaty idiom, where the relationship between an overlord and his subjects can be described as that of father and son.
- Ezekiel 2:4 tc Heb “stern of face and hard of heart.” The phrases “stern of face” and “hard of heart” are lacking in the LXX.
- Ezekiel 2:4 tn The phrase “thus says [the Lord]” occurs 129 times in Ezekiel; the announcement is identical to the way messengers often introduced their messages (Gen 32:5; 45:9; Exod 5:10; Num 20:14; Judg 11:15).
- Ezekiel 2:5 tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.
- Ezekiel 2:5 tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.
- Ezekiel 2:5 tn This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:10 (17:25 HT) and Isa 30:9.
- Ezekiel 2:5 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).
- Ezekiel 2:6 tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.
- Ezekiel 2:6 tn The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24.sn Here thorns may be a figure for hostility (Ezek 28:24; Mic 7:4).
- Ezekiel 2:6 tn Heb “of their faces.”
Ezekiel 2:4-6
New International Version
Ezekiel 2:4-6
New International Version
4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.(A) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’(B) 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen(C)—for they are a rebellious people(D)—they will know that a prophet has been among them.(E) 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid(F) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns(G) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.(H)
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