But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But 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.”
- KJV But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
- BSB And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
- NASB “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth wide and eat what I am giving you.”
- NLT Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God warns Ezekiel not to be rebellious like Israel but to open his mouth and eat what God gives. The prophet must first receive God's word himself.
Overview
Before delivering God's word, Ezekiel must inwardly receive it in obedience. The command to 'eat' introduces the symbolic scroll he is about to consume. A faithful messenger must not share the rebellion of those he addresses. This teaches that God's servants must internalize His word before they can faithfully proclaim it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Rev 10:9I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
- Jer 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Armies.
- Isa 50:5The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.
- Ezek 3:1–3He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”
- 1 Pet 5:3neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
- 1 Tim 4:14–16Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
- Ezek 3:10Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
- Lev 10:3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, ‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” Aaron held his peace.
- Num 20:24“Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
- Num 20:10–13Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?”
- 1 Kgs 13:21–22and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have been disobedient to Yahweh’s mouth, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you,
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 2:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.