Ezekiel 3:6

KJV

Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Not to many {H7227} people {H5971} of a strange {H6012} speech {H8193} and of an hard {H3515} language {H3956}, whose words {H1697} thou canst not understand {H8085}. Surely, had I sent {H7971} thee to them, they would have hearkened {H8085} unto thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

not to many peoples with difficult languages and unintelligible speech, whose words you can't understand when you hear them. Without doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.

Berean Standard Bible

not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

American Standard Version

not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 3:6 unveils a profound divine irony concerning God's commission to the prophet Ezekiel: while foreign nations, characterized by their "strange speech and of an hard language," would have readily heeded the divine message, the very people to whom Ezekiel is sent—the house of Israel—are marked by hardened hearts and spiritual obstinacy. This verse powerfully underscores the deep-seated rebellion of God's chosen people, starkly contrasting their unresponsiveness with the hypothetical receptiveness of Gentiles, thereby emphasizing the unique challenge and sovereign purpose behind Ezekiel's arduous prophetic ministry to a disobedient nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the narrative of Ezekiel's divine call and commission, immediately following God's command for Ezekiel to consume a scroll inscribed with "lamentations, and mourning, and woe" ([Ezekiel 2:10](/ezekiel/2-10 "Ezekiel 2:10 - The Scroll of Woe")). The preceding verse, [Ezekiel 3:5](/ezekiel/3-5 "Ezekiel 3:5 - God's Audience for Ezekiel"), establishes the crucial premise by explicitly stating that Ezekiel is *not* being sent to foreign peoples with unintelligible languages. Ezekiel 3:6 then amplifies this point, asserting that if he *were* sent to such nations, they would have been remarkably receptive. This divine declaration serves to highlight the exceptional spiritual hardness of Israel, a reality further confirmed in [Ezekiel 3:7](/ezekiel/3-7 "Ezekiel 3:7 - Israel's Disobedience"), where God unequivocally states that Israel will not listen to Ezekiel because they refuse to listen to God Himself. The entire passage from [Ezekiel 2](/ezekiel/2 "Ezekiel 2 - Ezekiel's Call") through [Ezekiel 3](/ezekiel/3 "Ezekiel 3 - Ezekiel's Commission") meticulously details the challenging nature of Ezekiel's prophetic mission and the spiritual disposition of his recalcitrant audience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel received his prophetic call while in Babylonian exile, among the first wave of Judahite captives deported after the siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC. The "people of a strange speech and of an hard language" refers to the various Gentile nations surrounding Israel, particularly the Babylonians and other Mesopotamian peoples, whose languages (such as Akkadian and Aramaic) and cultures were profoundly different from Hebrew. The Israelites, despite their unique covenant relationship with Yahweh, had repeatedly demonstrated a persistent propensity for idolatry, injustice, and disobedience, leading to their exile as a direct divine judgment. Culturally, prophets served as God's direct spokespersons, and their messages were expected to be heeded as divine commands. However, Israel's history was replete with instances of rejecting prophetic warnings, as vividly illustrated in the ministries of [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "Jeremiah 1 - The Call of Jeremiah") and [Isaiah](/isaiah/1 "Isaiah 1 - The Great Arraignment"). This verse, therefore, taps into a long-standing pattern of Israel's spiritual rebellion, contrasting it sharply with the surprising openness that might hypothetically be found among those considered "outsiders" to the covenant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes pervasive in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores **Israel's Stubbornness and Rebellion**, a recurring motif throughout the book, emphasizing their profound spiritual deafness despite clear and direct divine communication. God's lament that foreign nations would listen highlights the profound tragedy and culpability of Israel's apostasy. Secondly, the verse speaks to **Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge**, revealing God's complete understanding of human hearts and His deliberate choice to send Ezekiel to a resistant audience, not out of ignorance, but as an integral part of His sovereign plan for judgment and eventual restoration. This divine insight into who would listen underscores God's deep knowledge of human hearts, a theme also explored when God promises to give [a new heart and a new spirit](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit"). Thirdly, the verse illuminates **The Nature of Prophetic Ministry**, indicating that a prophet's success is not primarily measured by the audience's immediate positive response, but by faithful obedience to God's command to deliver the message, regardless of the outcome. Ezekiel's mission is one of steadfast proclamation, even if it leads to further hardening, as seen in passages like [Ezekiel 12:2](/ezekiel/12-2 "Ezekiel 12:2 - They Have Eyes to See But See Not").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **hard (Hebrew, _kâbêd'_):** Derived from the root meaning "heavy," this word figuratively describes something difficult, severe, or burdensome. In the context of "hard language," it emphasizes the profound difficulty and unintelligibility of the foreign speech, making it challenging to comprehend.
* **language (Hebrew, _lâshôwn'_):** Literally meaning "tongue," this term extends to signify speech, dialect, or a specific language. When combined with "hard," it powerfully conveys a form of communication that is not merely foreign but profoundly difficult to grasp, highlighting the linguistic barrier.
* **hearkened (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** This foundational Hebrew verb means "to hear intelligently," often implying not just perception of sound but also attentive listening, understanding, and crucially, obedience. Its use here underscores the stark contrast between the hypothetical, willing receptiveness of foreign nations and the spiritual deafness and disobedience of Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language":** This initial clause serves as a direct negation, clarifying that Ezekiel's divine commission is not directed towards the numerous foreign nations whose languages would pose an insurmountable linguistic barrier for the prophet. This sets the stage for the profound irony that follows, emphasizing that the true obstacle to understanding for Ezekiel's actual audience is not linguistic but spiritual.
* **"whose words thou canst not understand":** This phrase further elaborates on the nature of the "strange speech" and "hard language," explicitly stating that without divine intervention, such communication would be incomprehensible to Ezekiel. This highlights the extreme degree of foreignness implied by these terms and underscores the natural human limitations in cross-cultural communication.
* **"Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee":** This powerful divine declaration reveals God's perfect foreknowledge and the devastating spiritual irony at the heart of Ezekiel's mission. God asserts with certainty that these linguistically alien people, if given the opportunity, would have listened attentively, comprehended, and obeyed Ezekiel's message. This serves as a damning indictment of Israel's spiritual condition, highlighting their greater culpability and the tragic depth of their rebellion, as their unresponsiveness is shown to be a matter of will, not comprehension.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 3:6 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Irony**, where the expected outcome (Israel, God's covenant people, listening) is inverted, and the unexpected (foreign nations listening) is posited as the true, hypothetical outcome. This creates a sharp, poignant contrast that underscores Israel's deep-seated rebellion. There is also a strong element of **Hyperbole** in God's statement that foreign nations *would have* hearkened; while not meant to be literally exhaustive, it serves to amplify the severity of Israel's spiritual deafness by presenting an extreme counter-example. The verse further utilizes **Juxtaposition**, placing the "strange speech and hard language" of foreign peoples against the familiar language of Israel, yet highlighting that the true barrier to God's word is not linguistic but spiritual. This sets up a powerful **Antithesis** between the hypothetical receptiveness of the Gentiles and the actual, stubborn obstinacy of the Israelites.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the principle that spiritual receptivity often transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, while spiritual hardness can exist even within a covenant relationship. God's lament over Israel's unresponsiveness highlights the tragedy of a people who, despite receiving the Law and the Prophets, continually rejected divine truth. It underscores the severity of spiritual blindness and the greater accountability of those who have been given much. The verse also prefigures a broader biblical theme: the surprising openness of Gentiles to God's message, a theme that becomes central in the New Testament with the expansion of the Gospel.

* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9 "Hearts Hardened")
* [Jeremiah 7:23-26](/jeremiah/7-23 "Disobedience and Stubbornness")
* [Matthew 11:20-24](/matthew/11-20 "Woes to Unrepentant Cities")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 3:6 serves as a powerful mirror for self-reflection, challenging us to critically examine the condition of our own hearts. Are we, like the hypothetical foreign nations, genuinely open and receptive to God's word, even when it challenges our comfort, convictions, or deeply held assumptions? Or do we, like ancient Israel, possess a hardened heart, becoming spiritually deaf to divine truth, even when it is clearly articulated and delivered in a language we understand and from sources we trust? This verse reminds us that true understanding and obedience are not merely intellectual exercises but require a humble and pliable spirit, willing to submit to divine authority. For those engaged in sharing the Gospel or teaching God's word, it offers a crucial perspective: the effectiveness of the message often depends less on the eloquence or clarity of the speaker and more on the spiritual condition and willingness of the listener to "hearken." Our call is to be faithful messengers, proclaiming truth with integrity and compassion, entrusting the outcome to God's sovereign hand, even when faced with resistance or apparent fruitlessness. It encourages perseverance in ministry, knowing that our faithfulness is measured by our obedience to the commission, not solely by visible results.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually deaf or resistant to God's clear word, even though I understand it intellectually?**
* **How does the irony of this verse challenge my assumptions about who is "most likely" to receive the Gospel or respond to God's truth?**
* **As someone who shares or teaches God's word, how can I remain faithful and encouraged when faced with unresponsiveness, remembering Ezekiel's commission?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a more "hearkening" heart, one that is truly open and obedient to God's voice?**

### FAQ

**Why would foreign nations have hearkened when Israel did not?**

Answer: The verse highlights a profound spiritual paradox. God, in His omniscience, declares that the foreign nations, despite their linguistic and cultural differences, possessed a spiritual openness that Israel lacked. This is not necessarily because they were inherently "better" or more righteous, but rather to underscore the profound depth of Israel's spiritual rebellion and their greater culpability. Israel had a covenant relationship with God and had received His Law and prophets for centuries, yet they consistently rejected His word. The hypothetical receptiveness of the Gentiles serves as a severe indictment of Israel's hardened heart, emphasizing the tragedy of their disobedience, as seen throughout the prophetic books like [Isaiah 1:2-3](/isaiah/1-2 "Isaiah 1:2-3 - Israel's Rebellion").

**Does "strange speech and of an hard language" imply that God's message is universal and transcends linguistic barriers?**

Answer: Yes, implicitly. While the immediate context refers to a hypothetical scenario where Ezekiel would be sent to people whose language he couldn't understand, the underlying theological point is that God's truth is not ultimately limited by human language or cultural understanding. If God had willed it, He could have enabled communication (as seen in the miraculous events of [Acts 2:4-11](/acts/2-4 "Acts 2:4-11 - The Day of Pentecost")) or simply that their hearts were more prepared to receive the message if it were delivered. The emphasis is on the spiritual disposition and receptivity of the heart rather than the linguistic barrier itself, suggesting that a humble and open heart is paramount for receiving divine truth, regardless of the spoken tongue.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 3:6, with its poignant irony of Israel's spiritual deafness contrasted with the hypothetical receptiveness of Gentiles, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound significance in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as Ezekiel was sent to a rebellious house of Israel, Jesus, the Incarnate Word, came "unto his own, and his own received him not" ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - The Word Made Flesh")). The very people to whom the Messiah was promised, and among whom He performed countless miracles and taught with divine authority, largely rejected Him, demonstrating the same hardened hearts lamented in Ezekiel's day. Yet, the second part of Ezekiel 3:6—the idea that foreign nations "would have hearkened"—foreshadows the glorious expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles. After Israel's widespread rejection of Christ, the early church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, faithfully turned its focus to the nations. The book of Acts is replete with examples of Gentiles, previously considered "strangers and foreigners" to God's covenant, eagerly embracing the message of salvation through Christ, often with a zeal that contrasted sharply with the resistance encountered among many Jews (e.g., [Acts 13:46-48](/acts/13-46 "Acts 13:46-48 - Paul Turns to the Gentiles")). This fulfillment culminates in the New Covenant, where through Christ, the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is broken down, and all who believe, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background, become one in Him ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace")). Thus, Ezekiel 3:6 not only highlights Israel's historical unresponsiveness but also subtly points to God's expansive redemptive plan to include all nations through the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ, who came to seek and to save the lost, whether Jew or Gentile, who would "hearken" to His voice.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jonah 3:5

¶ So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Jonah 3:10

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.

Luke 11:30

For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

Luke 11:32

The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here.

Romans 9:30

¶ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Romans 9:33

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Matthew 11:20

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: