Ezekiel 2

Ezekiel's Commission as Prophet

¹He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”

²The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me.

³He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me even to this very day.

⁴The children are impudent and stiff-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

⁵They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them.

⁶You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

⁷You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear or whether they will refuse; for they are most rebellious.

The Eating of the Scroll

⁸But you, son of man, hear what I tell you. Don’t be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.”

⁹When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.

¹⁰He spread it before me. It was written within and without; and lamentations, mourning, and woe were written in it.

Previous Ezekiel 1

Next Ezekiel 3

God formally commissions Ezekiel as a prophet to the rebellious nation of Israel, empowering him through the Spirit to stand and receive his calling. Despite Israel's stubborn resistance and the hostility Ezekiel will face, he must faithfully deliver God's messages whether the people listen or refuse. The chapter concludes with God presenting Ezekiel a scroll filled with lamentations and woe, which he is commanded to eat, symbolizing his complete internalization of the prophetic message.

Context

Following Ezekiel's inaugural vision of God's glory in chapter 1, this chapter establishes his prophetic calling before he begins delivering specific oracles of judgment.

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
Spirit-Empowered Standing The Spirit enables Ezekiel to stand and receive God's word after his overwhelming vision.
3-5
Commission to Rebellious Israel God sends Ezekiel as prophet to the persistently rebellious children of Israel.
6-7
Courage Despite Opposition God commands Ezekiel not to fear the hostile reception he will receive from this rebellious people.
8-10
The Scroll of Lamentation God presents Ezekiel with a scroll written with mourning and woe, commanding him to eat it.

Ezekiel's Commission as Prophet

2:1–2:7

prophecy speech urgent

God commissions Ezekiel as prophet to rebellious Israel, empowering him with the Spirit and commanding him to speak God's words fearlessly. Despite Israel's expected rejection, Ezekiel must fulfill his prophetic calling to this obstinate people.

person_contrast

God's Spirit physically lifts Ezekiel to his feet before commissioning him, uniquely combining divine empowerment with the stark warning that his audience will reject his message.

The Eating of the Scroll

2:8–3:3

prophecy vision contemplative

God gives Ezekiel a scroll containing lamentations to eat, which tastes sweet as honey in his mouth. This symbolic act represents the prophet's complete internalization of God's message before delivering it to Israel.

person_contrast

Ezekiel's obedient consumption of the bitter scroll that tastes "sweet as honey" creates a striking paradox where divine judgment becomes pleasurable through prophetic submission.

Insight Character Study

God's Spirit physically lifts Ezekiel to his feet before commissioning him, uniquely combining divine empowerment with the stark warning that his audience will reject his message.

Insight Character Study

Ezekiel's obedient consumption of the bitter scroll that tastes "sweet as honey" creates a striking paradox where divine judgment becomes pleasurable through prophetic submission.