Discovery BoxEzekiel 2:3-7 
Context2:3 He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the house 1 of Israel, to rebellious nations 2 who have rebelled against me; both they and their fathers have revolted 3 against me to this very day. 2:4 The people 4 to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, 5 and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’ 6 2:5 And as for them, 7 whether they listen 8 or not – for they are a rebellious 9 house 10 – they will know that a prophet has been among them. 2:6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words – even though briers 11 and thorns 12 surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, 13 for they are a rebellious house! 2:7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.
1 tc The Hebrew reads “sons of,” while the LXX reads “house,” implying the more common phrase in Ezekiel. Either could be abbreviated with the first letter ב (bet). In preparation for the characterization “house of rebellion,” in vv. 5, 6, and 8, “house” is preferred (L. C. Allen, Ezekiel [WBC], 1:10 and W. Zimmerli, Ezekiel [Hermeneia], 2:564-65).
2 tc Heb “to the rebellious nations.” The phrase “to the rebellious nations” is omitted in the LXX. Elsewhere in Ezekiel the singular word “nation” is used for Israel (36:13-15; 37:22). Here “nations” may have the meaning of “tribes” or refer to the two nations of Israel and Judah.
3 tc This word is omitted from the LXX.
tn The Hebrew term used here is the strongest word available for expressing a covenant violation. The word is used in the diplomatic arena to express a treaty violation (2 Kgs 1:1; 3:5, 7).
4 tn Heb “sons.” The word choice may reflect treaty idiom, where the relationship between an overlord and his subjects can be described as that of father and son.
5 tc Heb “stern of face and hard of heart.” The phrases “stern of face” and “hard of heart” are lacking in the LXX.
6 tn The phrase “thus says [the
7 tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.
8 tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.
9 tn This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:25 and Isa 30:9.
10 sn The book of Ezekiel frequently refers to the Israelites as a rebellious house (Ezek 2:5, 6, 8; 3:9, 26-27; 12:2-3, 9, 25; 17:12; 24:3).
11 tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.
12 tn The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24.
sn Here thorns may be a figure for hostility (Ezek 28:24; Mic 7:4).
13 tn Heb “of their faces.”
