Ezekiel 3:5

For thou [art] not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, [but] to the house of Israel;

For thou art not sent {H7971} to a people {H5971} of a strange {H6012} speech {H8193} and of an hard {H3515} language {H3956}, but to the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478};

For you are not being sent to a people with a difficult language and unintelligible speech, but to the house of Isra'el -

For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel—

For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel;

Ezekiel 3:5 is a foundational verse in understanding the prophet Ezekiel's specific commission from God during the turbulent period of the Babylonian exile. It clarifies the scope and nature of his divine assignment.

Context of Ezekiel's Calling

This verse comes directly after God has called Ezekiel to be a watchman to the rebellious house of Israel. Ezekiel had just received the scroll filled with lamentations, mourning, and woe, symbolizing the message he was to deliver. Verses 4-6 specify his target audience. God emphasizes that Ezekiel is not being sent to distant, foreign nations like the Assyrians or Egyptians, whose languages would be unintelligible. Instead, his mission is directed squarely at his own people, the Israelite exiles, who were already in Babylon with him. This immediate clarity of audience sets the stage for the challenging message Ezekiel is about to deliver to a people who, despite understanding his words, were spiritually hard of heart and obstinate.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Clarity of Divine Mission: God is explicit about whom Ezekiel is to address. This precision underscores the deliberate nature of God's communication and His specific plan for His chosen messenger. It highlights that God always knows His intended audience for His word.
  • Absence of Linguistic Barriers: The verse explicitly states that Ezekiel's audience is not of a "strange speech and of an hard language." This means the message would be delivered in their shared Hebrew tongue, removing any linguistic impediment to understanding. The irony, however, is that despite this linguistic clarity, the people would still resist the message, pointing to a deeper, spiritual problem.
  • Focus on the House of Israel: Ezekiel's primary responsibility is to his own people, the descendants of Jacob. This emphasizes God's continued covenant relationship with Israel, even in judgment and exile. His message, though harsh, was ultimately aimed at their repentance and restoration, reflecting God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "strange speech" and "hard language" translate Hebrew terms that literally mean "deep of lip" (עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה - 'imqey saphah) and "heavy of tongue" (כְּבֵדֵי לָשׁוֹן - k'vedei lashon). These idiomatic expressions refer to foreign languages that are difficult to understand or speak. The contrast here is crucial: Ezekiel doesn't face the challenge of translating his message into an alien tongue. His audience speaks his language, underscoring that their inability to hear and obey is not a matter of comprehension but of spiritual rebellion.

Related Scriptures

  • This clear directive to Israel contrasts with later prophetic missions, such as Jonah's call to Nineveh, a foreign gentile city.
  • The concept of a people who "hear, but understand not" despite speaking the same language is a recurring theme, powerfully illustrated by Isaiah's commission (Isaiah 6:9-10) and later cited by Jesus in Matthew 13:14-15 regarding spiritual blindness.
  • God's precision in sending His prophets is also seen in Jeremiah 1:7, where the Lord tells Jeremiah exactly where he is to go and what he is to say.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 3:5 offers valuable insights for anyone communicating truth today. It reminds us that while clarity of message and understanding of audience are vital, the ultimate receptivity to God's word often depends not on external factors like language, but on the spiritual condition of the listener's heart. For those called to share God's message, this verse is a reminder of the importance of knowing one's specific calling and audience, yet also preparing for the reality that spiritual barriers can be far more formidable than linguistic ones. It highlights the sovereign nature of God's call and the specific focus of His redemptive plan, even amidst judgment.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jonah 1:2

    Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

  • Isaiah 33:19

    Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, [that thou canst] not understand.

  • Isaiah 28:11

    For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

  • Psalms 81:5

    This he ordained in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a language [that] I understood not.

  • Jonah 3:2

    Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

  • Jonah 3:4

    And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

  • Acts 26:17

    Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

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