Ezekiel 3:6

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ezekiel 3:6 is a fascinating verse that provides insight into the nature of God's commission to the prophet Ezekiel and the spiritual condition of the people of Israel.

Context

This verse comes during Ezekiel's intense prophetic call, immediately after he has been commanded to eat a scroll containing lamentations, mourning, and woe (Ezekiel 2:10). God is detailing the specific nature of Ezekiel's mission. In the preceding verse (Ezekiel 3:5), God explicitly states that Ezekiel is not being sent to a people of a strange speech or difficult language. Verse 6 reinforces this by saying that if he *were* sent to such foreign nations, they would have been receptive.

Key Themes

  • Israel's Stubbornness: The core message here is the stark contrast between the hypothetical receptiveness of foreign, unintelligible nations and the actual obstinacy of the "house of Israel" to whom Ezekiel is truly sent. God implies that the challenge for Ezekiel is not a linguistic barrier, but the hardened hearts of his own people. This theme is further emphasized in Ezekiel 3:7, where God states they will not listen because they will not listen to Him.
  • Divine Commission & Sovereignty: This verse highlights God's strategic choice of messenger and audience. God knows the hearts of all people, and His decision to send Ezekiel to Israel, despite their rebellion, is part of His sovereign plan to hold them accountable and offer them a path to repentance. 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.
  • The Nature of Prophetic Ministry: It reveals that a prophet's success is not measured by the audience's immediate positive response, but by faithful obedience to God's command to deliver the message, regardless of the outcome.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "strange speech and of an hard language" translates the Hebrew terms `amqey saphah` (deep/unintelligible lip/language) and `kibdey lashon` (heavy/difficult tongue). These phrases vividly describe a communication barrier that is more than just different dialects; it implies a language so foreign it would be truly incomprehensible without divine intervention. The irony is that the actual barrier for Ezekiel is not language, but the spiritual deafness of his own people.

The phrase "they would have hearkened unto thee" uses the Hebrew verb `shama` (שָׁמַע), which means not just to hear, but to listen attentively, understand, and obey. This implies that these hypothetical foreign nations would have been receptive and compliant, a stark contrast to the anticipated reaction of Israel.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 3:6 encourages us to reflect on our own receptiveness to God's word. Are we like the "strange speech" people who would have "hearkened," or do we, like ancient Israel, possess a hardened heart that resists divine truth, even when delivered clearly? It also serves as a reminder for those who share the Gospel that the effectiveness of the message often depends not on the clarity of the speaker, but on the spiritual condition of the listener. Our call is to be faithful messengers, trusting God with the outcome, even when faced with resistance.

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 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:

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