Ezekiel 2:3
And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "rebellious nations" is a profound paradox, as God is sending Ezekiel to His chosen people, Israel, who have fallen so far that they are described with a term usually reserved for Gentiles. This highlights the severity of their apostasy – they have become so estranged from God that they are likened to the very peoples they were meant to stand apart from.
After the breathtaking vision of God's glory, Ezekiel is commissioned for his prophetic task. God is sending him not to a receptive audience, but to the people of Israel, described as a rebellious nation, whose defiance and transgression have continued from their fathers' time right up to this very day. This stark assessment sets the stage for the immense challenge Ezekiel faces in delivering God's message to a stiff-necked and unrepentant people.
Why does God call Israel 'nations' (plural) when they are one people? It’s a powerful way to describe their deep-seated rebellion.
God addresses Ezekiel with a shocking description of the people he's being sent to: "rebellious nations." This might seem strange, as they are the descendants of Abraham, God's chosen people. However, the use of the plural "nations" (goim in Hebrew) has a few layers of meaning:
This description immediately sets the stage for the difficult task ahead for Ezekiel: he's not being sent to an easily receptive audience, but to a people deeply entrenched in their defiance.
Ezekiel is told this rebellion isn't new. It's a family legacy of defiance passed down through the ages.
The verse doesn't just paint a picture of current rebellion; it extends it backward: "they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day." This is crucial for understanding the depth of Israel's problem.
Understand the original words
yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A general term for descendants of Jacob, chosen by God to be His covenant people. It refers to the collective identity of those bound by the Mosaic covenant, despite their frequent unfaithfulness.
marad · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A term describing those who willfully reject or revolt against divine authority. It denotes an active, defiant posture against God's law and sovereignty.
pasha' · Hebrew Verb
A violation of a law, covenant, or commandment. It represents an act of treason against God’s established order and authority.
Ezekiel's mission comes at the darkest hour, after Jerusalem has fallen and the Temple is destroyed. He is sent to a people deeply entrenched in rebellion, not just in their present despair but also as a continuation of their fathers' continuous defiance throughout Israel's history. This historical context underscores the immense difficulty and profound significance of his prophetic task.
~1400 BC
Israel rebels at the border of Canaan
Following the Exodus, the Israelites rebel against God's command to enter Canaan, leading to a generation’s wandering in the wilderness.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, and a large portion of its population is exiled, marking the end of a unified Israel.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Judah's elite, including many skilled artisans and religious leaders, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Temple Destruction
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling the remaining population and scattering Judah's people.
This passage highlights a long history of Israelite rebellion, echoing Ezekiel's description of a people and their fathers who have transgressed against God.
Jeremiah 7:25-26Jeremiah was also sent to a rebellious people, facing constant disobedience and rejection of God's prophets, much like Ezekiel's experience.
Isaiah 6:9-10This prophecy describes a similar mission where the prophet is told to speak to a people who will not listen, illustrating the difficult and often seemingly fruitless nature of confronting rebellion with God's word.
Acts 7:51Stephen's speech directly accuses the Israelites of continually resisting the Holy Spirit, mirroring Ezekiel's message about the ingrained rebellious nature of the people and their ancestors.
Hosea 1:9Hosea’s message of being called 'Lo-ammi' (not my people) underscores the theme of Israel's estrangement from God due to persistent rebellion, a state Ezekiel is sent to confront.
barnesEzekiel 2:3: "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day."
Nation - literally, as in the margin - the word which usually distinguishes the pagan from God's people. Here it expresses that Israel is cast off by God; and the plural is used to denote that the children of Israel are not even "one nation," but scattered and disunited. Translat…
pulpitEzekiel 2:3: "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day."
Verse 3. - To a rebellious nation; literally, with Revised Version, nations that are rebellious. The Hebrew word (goim) is that used elsewhere for "heathen" and that may be its sense here. As in Ezekiel 28:22. Judah and Israel may be thought of as having fallen to the level of th…
The phrase "rebellious nations" is a profound paradox, as God is sending Ezekiel to His chosen people, Israel, who have fallen so far that they are described with a term usually reserved for Gentiles. This highlights the severity of their apostasy – they have become so estranged from God that they are likened to the very peoples they were meant to stand apart from.
After the breathtaking vision of God's glory, Ezekiel is commissioned for his prophetic task. God is sending him not to a receptive audience, but to the people of Israel, described as a rebellious nation, whose defiance and transgression have continued from their fathers' time right up to this very day. This stark assessment sets the stage for the immense challenge Ezekiel faces in delivering God's message to a stiff-necked and unrepentant people.
After the breathtaking vision of God's glory, Ezekiel is commissioned for his prophetic task. God is sending him not to a receptive audience, but to the people of Israel, described as a rebellious nation, whose defiance and transgression have continued from their fathers' time right up to this very day. This stark assessment sets the stage for the immense challenge Ezekiel faces in delivering God's message to a stiff-necked and unrepentant people.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 2:3 is available in the Sola app.
Despite their deep-seated rebellion, God still sends His message. What does this say about His heart?
It might seem counterintuitive. If Israel is so rebellious, why even bother sending a prophet? Why not just write them off? This verse reveals God's unwavering commitment, even in the face of intense opposition.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel receives his prophetic commission
While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel is called by God to prophesy to the exiles and to the people remaining in Judah, beginning with this commissioning in chapter 2.
"And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day." — The phrase "rebellious nations" is a profound paradox, as God is sending Ezekiel to His chosen people, Israel, who have fallen so far that they are described with a term usually reserved for Gentiles…
