“Son of man,” He added, “listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and take them to heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moreover 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.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.
- NASB Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely.
- NLT Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.
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 tells Ezekiel to receive His words in his heart and hear them with his ears. The prophet must take the message to heart before speaking.
Overview
Faithful proclamation begins with attentive, heartfelt reception of God's word. Ezekiel must let God's words sink deep, not merely pass them along. This inward grasp ensures his ministry flows from genuine conviction. It models the call to treasure God's word in the heart before declaring it to others.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 119:11I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Job 22:22Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
- Luke 8:15But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
- Ezek 2:8And 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.”
- Ezek 3:1–3“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
- 1 Th 2:13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
- Prov 19:20Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
- Prov 8:10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- 1 Th 4:1Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 3:10 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.