Ezekiel 3:27

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they [are] a rebellious house.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth; and you will say to them, 'This is what Adonai ELOHIM says.' Whoever is inclined to listen will listen, and whoever is inclined to refuse will refuse, because they are a rebellious house.

Berean Standard Bible:

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

American Standard Version:

But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But when I speak^{H1696} with^{H854} thee, I will open^{H6605} thy mouth^{H6310}, and thou shalt say^{H559} unto them, Thus saith^{H559} the Lord^{H136} GOD^{H3069}; He that heareth^{H8085}, let him hear^{H8085}; and he that forbeareth^{H2310}, let him forbear^{H2308}: for they are a rebellious^{H4805} house^{H1004}.

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Commentary for Ezekiel 3:27

Ezekiel 3:27 is a part of the larger narrative found in the Book of Ezekiel, which is attributed to the prophet Ezekiel, active during the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BCE. The verse is situated within God's commission to Ezekiel as a prophet to the people of Israel. In this commission, God instructs Ezekiel regarding his role and responsibilities, emphasizing that Ezekiel is to deliver God's messages whether or not the people choose to listen.

The historical context of this verse is crucial to understanding its themes. At this time, the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, having been forcibly removed from their homeland as a result of the Babylonian conquest of Judah. This period was characterized by a profound sense of loss, disorientation, and questioning of their covenantal relationship with God. Ezekiel, as a prophet, was called to minister to a people who were struggling with their identity and faith.

In Ezekiel 3:27, God tells Ezekiel that when He speaks through him, Ezekiel's mouth will be opened to declare, "Thus saith the Lord GOD." This indicates that Ezekiel's prophetic authority is divinely given; he is to be God's mouthpiece, conveying the divine word without alteration. The phrase "He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear" suggests a dual responsibility: the people must listen and take to heart the message, but they also have the agency to reject it. The final clause, "for they [are] a rebellious house," acknowledges the hardened state of the Israelites' hearts. It reflects the repeated disobedience and stubbornness that characterized the people's relationship with God, a theme that runs throughout the prophetic literature.

The verse encapsulates the challenges faced by Ezekiel as a prophet to a people who had a history of rejecting God's messages and messengers. It speaks to the sovereignty of God in speaking through His prophet, the imperative for the prophet to faithfully deliver the message regardless of the audience's response, and the free will of the people to either heed or ignore the divine word. This passage underscores the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency, a tension that is a central motif in the Bible's narrative of God's relationship with His people.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
2. Strong's Number: H854
   There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵת
   Transliteration: ʼêth
   Pronunciation: ayth
   Description: probably from אָנָה; properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.; against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6605
   There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּתַח
   Transliteration: pâthach
   Pronunciation: paw-thakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve; appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-) grave(-n), loose (self), (be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6310
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פֶּה
   Transliteration: peh
   Pronunciation: peh
   Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word.
   
5. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: H136
   There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
   Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
   Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
   Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3069
   There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוִה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvih
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vee'
   Description: a variation of יְהֹוָה (used after אֲדֹנָי, and pronounced by Jews as אֱלֹהִים, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce יְהֹוָה as אֲדֹנָי); {YHWH}; God.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2310
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָדֵל
   Transliteration: châdêl
   Pronunciation: khaw-dale'
   Description: from חָדַל; vacant, i.e. ceasing or destitute; he that forbeareth, frail, rejected.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2308
    There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָדַל
    Transliteration: châdal
    Pronunciation: khaw-dal'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle; cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be unoccupied, want.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4805
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְרִי
    Transliteration: mᵉrîy
    Pronunciation: mer-ee'
    Description: from מָרָה; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious; bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).
    
12. Strong's Number: H1004
    There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּיִת
    Transliteration: bayith
    Pronunciation: bah'-yith
    Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).