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)
What's easily missed is that the stubbornness of the people isn't just internal; it's visible in their very demeanor, described as "hard of face." This visual description emphasizes their open defiance, making it clear that their rebellion isn't hidden but a bold, unashamed opposition to God.
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)
God has just appeared to Ezekiel in a glorious vision, commissioning him as a prophet to the rebellious people of Israel. Now, God describes the very people Ezekiel is being sent to: they are "impudent" (literally "hard of face") and "stiffhearted," meaning they are shameless, stubborn, and unwilling to listen. Despite this daunting description of their resistance, God immediately reiterates the command: Ezekiel must go and deliver His messages, always starting with "Thus says the Lord GOD."
Ezekiel is sent to a people described with incredibly vivid imagery. What does it mean to have a 'hard face' and a 'stiff heart'?
The people Ezekiel is sent to are described as "impudent" and "stubborn." The original language paints an even stronger picture: "hard of face" and "strong of heart."
Hard of Face
This refers to an outward shamelessness. Imagine someone who can't be shamed, who looks you straight in the eye without flinching, even when they've done something wrong. They brazenly carry on in their sin, refusing to show any sign of repentance or remorse. It’s like they've developed a tough, unyielding exterior that defies any attempt at correction.
Strong of Heart
This complements the outward appearance. It speaks to an inner resolve, a deep-seated stubbornness. Their hearts are not pliable or yielding; they are set in their ways, resistant to God's commands and truth. This combination—a defiant exterior and an unbending interior—made them an incredibly difficult audience for the prophet.
This description isn't just about their past sins; it’s about their present disposition. They are a generation that has inherited the rebellion of their ancestors and continues in it.
Facing such a resistant people, Ezekiel might have felt overwhelmed. But God equips him with a simple, powerful phrase. What makes this declaration so crucial?
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In the face of a people described as 'impudent' and 'stubborn,' God’s command to Ezekiel is clear: 'I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’'
God's Authority Stands
This phrase, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' is the bedrock of Ezekiel's mission. It's not about Ezekiel's opinions, his eloquence, or his personal feelings. His authority comes directly from the Almighty. Even when the people refuse to listen or believe, the prophet's task is to faithfully deliver the message as it was given to him by God.
A Plea for Reverence
When Ezekiel declares, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' it's an invitation—even a demand—for reverence. It’s an announcement that these aren't just words, but divine pronouncements carrying the weight of God's character and power. The people might reject the messenger, but the message itself demands consideration because of its divine source.
Duty Over Outcome
God is essentially telling Ezekiel, 'Your job is to deliver the message. The people's response is ultimately in their hands, and in Mine.' This frees the prophet from the burden of ensuring they listen or obey. His faithfulness lies in accurately proclaiming the divine word, regardless of the immediate results. This is a profound reminder for anyone tasked with sharing God's truth.
Understand the original words
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).
Ezekiel is called to prophesy to a people already deep in exile, marked by generations of disobedience and a hardened resistance to God's voice. Their 'impudence' and 'stubbornness' are not new traits but a pattern of rebellion inherited from their fathers, making God's message incredibly difficult to deliver and receive.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many of its inhabitants. This event marks a significant loss of national identity and a harsh lesson in divine judgment for many.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a portion of its nobility and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This signifies the beginning of Judah's decline and increasing foreign domination.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, are taken to Babylon. This event plunges Judah into deeper despair and sets the stage for the final destruction of Jerusalem.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar completely destroys Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population into exile. This is the nadir of Israel's national and religious life.
c. 540 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry Continues
While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel delivers his prophetic messages to the exiled community, addressing their spiritual condition and offering messages of both judgment and future restoration.
This passage describes a similar stubborn and rebellious people who have turned away from God, highlighting the persistent nature of unfaithfulness that Ezekiel's audience embodied.
Exodus 33:3The phrase 'stiffhearted' or 'stubborn' is reminiscent of God's description of Israel in the wilderness, showing that this hardened attitude was a recurring problem throughout their history.
John 1:11This verse speaks of Jesus coming to his own people who did not receive him, paralleling how Ezekiel's message, though from God, would be rejected by a resistant audience.
2 Corinthians 5:20This passage frames the ministry of reconciliation as an embassy on behalf of Christ, much like Ezekiel's role as a messenger of God to a defiant people.
Romans 10:21Quoting Isaiah, Paul describes Israel as a 'disobedient and contrary people,' echoing the 'impudent and stubborn' nature of the people God sent Ezekiel to address.
clarkeEzekiel 2:4: "For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD."
Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord - Let them know that what thou hast to declare is the message of the Lord, that they may receive it with reverence. Every preacher of God's word should take heed that it is God's message he delivers to the people. Let him not suppose, because it is according to his own creed or confession of faith, that the…
calvinEzekiel 2:4-5: "For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD."
For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
Et filii duri fade, et robusti corde: ergo mitto to ad eos. et dices illis, Sic dieit Dominator Iehovah.
And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet sha…
What's easily missed is that the stubbornness of the people isn't just internal; it's visible in their very demeanor, described as "hard of face." This visual description emphasizes their open defiance, making it clear that their rebellion isn't hidden but a bold, unashamed opposition to God.
God has just appeared to Ezekiel in a glorious vision, commissioning him as a prophet to the rebellious people of Israel. Now, God describes the very people Ezekiel is being sent to: they are "impudent" (literally "hard of face") and "stiffhearted," meaning they are shameless, stubborn, and unwilling to listen. Despite this daunting description of their resistance, God immediately reiterates the command: Ezekiel must go and deliver His messages, always starting with "Thus says the Lord GOD."
God has just appeared to Ezekiel in a glorious vision, commissioning him as a prophet to the rebellious people of Israel. Now, God describes the very people Ezekiel is being sent to: they are "impudent" (literally "hard of face") and "stiffhearted," meaning they are shameless, stubborn, and unwilling to listen. Despite this daunting description of their resistance, God immediately reiterates the command: Ezekiel must go and deliver His messages, always starting with "Thus says the Lord GOD."
"The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’" — What's easily missed is that the stubbornness of the people isn't just internal; it's visible in their very demeanor, described as "hard of face." This visual description emphasizes their open defian…
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Last reviewed October 2026