This isn't just a command to preach; it's an instruction to speak God's very words, emphasizing that Ezekiel's authority comes from God's direct message, not his own ideas or human persuasion. The repetition of "go" isn't just emphasis; it signals God preparing Ezekiel for a challenging mission, distinguishing it from any ordinary delivery.
And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has just commissioned Ezekiel, giving him a scroll filled with pronouncements. Now, the Lord directly instructs Ezekiel to go to his own people, the house of Israel, emphasizing that he must speak God's very words to them, not his own. This sets the stage for a difficult mission, as the people are known for their stubbornness and resistance to God's message.
You might think God would send a prophet to a nation that doesn't know Him. But Ezekiel's first assignment is to his own people, Israel. Why?
God gives Ezekiel a difficult task: to speak His words to the house of Israel. This isn't about a lack of understanding; Israel knows God's laws. The challenge here is their deep-seated rebellion.
God doesn't just tell Ezekiel what to say, but how to say it. What does this distinction reveal about prophecy?
The emphasis on "speak with my words" is crucial. Ezekiel isn't meant to craft his own message or rely on human eloquence.
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Understand the original words
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The authoritative declarations or commandments of God. These are not the prophet's own opinions but are divine utterances that carry the weight and power of God Himself.
am · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe people of a different nation, culture, and language, often implying those outside the covenant community of Israel.
Ezekiel is commissioned to speak God's words to the exiled community in Babylon, a community deeply impacted by the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. His message is one of judgment for their sin but also of future restoration and hope.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Jehoiakim, the first wave of Judean exiles, including Daniel and his companions, are taken to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II. This event deeply impacts the Jewish community in exile.
c. 597-571 BC
Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministry
During his time in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel receives visions and pronounces judgment and future hope to the exiled community and to Judah, which is still anticipating further destruction.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining significant population. This catastrophic event confirms Ezekiel's prophecies of judgment.
This passage parallels Ezekiel's commission, highlighting the divine instruction to speak only God's words, not one's own, in the face of opposition.
John 14:10Jesus' words about the Father dwelling in Him and doing His works through Him echo Ezekiel's task of speaking God's very words, emphasizing the intimate connection between the speaker and the divine message.
1 Peter 4:11This verse calls believers to speak God's words, acting as oracles of God, which directly reflects Ezekiel's mandate to be a pure channel for divine communication.
Revelation 10:9-10Similar to Ezekiel eating the scroll, John is instructed to eat a little book and then prophesy, showing a pattern of internalizing God's message before speaking it forth.
cambridgeEzekiel 3:4: "And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them."
4–9 . The prophet shall be strengthened to perform his hard task Having taken in the “words” of the Lord ( Ezekiel 3:4 ) there opens up before the prophet a general view of the mission he is sent upon. It is an arduous one. The difficulties are not of a superficial kind. He is not sent to foreign nations, who would not understand his words, but to Israel. They can well under…
wesleyEzekiel 3:4: "And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them."
3:4 Speak - What things I shall shew thee, and in what words I shall declare them to thee.
This isn't just a command to preach; it's an instruction to speak God's very words, emphasizing that Ezekiel's authority comes from God's direct message, not his own ideas or human persuasion. The repetition of "go" isn't just emphasis; it signals God preparing Ezekiel for a challenging mission, distinguishing it from any ordinary delivery.
God has just commissioned Ezekiel, giving him a scroll filled with pronouncements. Now, the Lord directly instructs Ezekiel to go to his own people, the house of Israel, emphasizing that he must speak God's very words to them, not his own. This sets the stage for a difficult mission, as the people are known for their stubbornness and resistance to God's message.
God has just commissioned Ezekiel, giving him a scroll filled with pronouncements. Now, the Lord directly instructs Ezekiel to go to his own people, the house of Israel, emphasizing that he must speak God's very words to them, not his own. This sets the stage for a difficult mission, as the people are known for their stubbornness and resistance to God's message.
"And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard…" — This isn't just a command to preach; it's an instruction to speak God's very words, emphasizing that Ezekiel's authority comes from God's direct message, not his own ideas or human persuasion. The re…
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Last reviewed October 2026
