What's striking here is that God refers to Israel not as "a nation" but as "nations." This plural emphasizes how deeply fractured and divided they've become through their rebellion, losing their sense of unity as God's people. Even more pointedly, this word choice echoes the term for "heathen" or "Gentiles," highlighting how far Israel has fallen from their special covenant relationship with God.
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 descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Immediately after Ezekiel’s vision of God's glory and his commissioning, God reveals the difficult nature of the prophet's mission: he is sent to the people of Israel, a nation steeped in rebellion against God, a trait inherited from their fathers and continuing to the present day. This stark reality sets the stage for the challenging and often thankless task ahead for Ezekiel, preparing him for the stiff-necked and unrepentant audience he is to address.
Imagine being sent on a mission, but the people you're sent to are described as outright rebels against the one who sent you. That's Ezekiel's starting point.
God identifies Israel not just as a 'nation' but as 'rebellious nations.' This isn't a typo; it emphasizes their deep-seated, pervasive defiance.
More Than Just Disobedience
God equips Ezekiel for a tough assignment. What does this tell us about God's heart and the nature of His mission?
God doesn't send Ezekiel into ignorance; He fully briefs him on the people's disposition. This isn't to discourage him but to prepare him for the reality of his task.
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Divine Preparation for Hard Truths
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.
qesheh panim · Hebrew Adjective Phrase
Refers to a hard, unyielding, or callous heart. Biblically, it signifies a moral inflexibility and refusal to repent or be corrected by God.
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Used here for the divine title 'Adonai Yahweh.' It emphasizes God's absolute authority as Master (Adonai) and His covenant identity as the self-existent God (Yahweh).
The verse highlights that Israel's rebellion against God was not a new phenomenon but a deeply ingrained pattern stretching back generations. Ezekiel is sent to a people who, despite enduring devastating consequences like exile, continue their ancestors' legacy of defiance.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the united kingdom of Israel splits into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This division marks an early point of national disunity and religious compromise.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its people and scattering them. This event signifies a major judgment for their prolonged rebellion against God.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans to Babylon, including members of the royal family and skilled individuals. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel himself and King Jehoiachin. This event is the immediate backdrop for Ezekiel's prophetic ministry.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This devastating event serves as a final judgment for Judah's persistent rebellion.
This passage describes a similar persistent rebellion of God's people against Him, highlighting their hardened hearts and refusal to listen, which echoes the reason God sends Ezekiel to Israel.
Isaiah 6:9-10This prophetic commission parallels Ezekiel's, where Isaiah is told to preach to a people who will not listen, emphasizing God's sovereign purpose even in apparent futility.
Nehemiah 9:16-17This prayer of confession recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and stubbornness, mirroring the very reason God describes them as rebellious to Ezekiel and his fathers.
Romans 9:14-18This passage discusses God's sovereign choice and hardening of hearts, providing a theological backdrop for why God might send a prophet to a people already described as rebellious and stiff-necked.
Deuteronomy 9:7This verse reminds Moses of Israel's rebelliousness from their very beginnings in the wilderness, underscoring the historical depth of the rebellion that 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…
What's striking here is that God refers to Israel not as "a nation" but as "nations." This plural emphasizes how deeply fractured and divided they've become through their rebellion, losing their sense of unity as God's people. Even more pointedly, this word choice echoes the term for "heathen" or "Gentiles," highlighting how far Israel has fallen from their special covenant relationship with God.
Immediately after Ezekiel’s vision of God's glory and his commissioning, God reveals the difficult nature of the prophet's mission: he is sent to the people of Israel, a nation steeped in rebellion against God, a trait inherited from their fathers and continuing to the present day. This stark reality sets the stage for the challenging and often thankless task ahead for Ezekiel, preparing him for the stiff-necked and unrepentant audience he is to address.
Immediately after Ezekiel’s vision of God's glory and his commissioning, God reveals the difficult nature of the prophet's mission: he is sent to the people of Israel, a nation steeped in rebellion against God, a trait inherited from their fathers and continuing to the present day. This stark reality sets the stage for the challenging and often thankless task ahead for Ezekiel, preparing him for the stiff-necked and unrepentant audience he is to address.
"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 descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I…" — What's striking here is that God refers to Israel not as "a nation" but as "nations." This plural emphasizes how deeply fractured and divided they've become through their rebellion, losing their sens…
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Last reviewed October 2026
