Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
Behold, I have made {H5414} thy face {H6440} strong {H2389} against {H5980} their faces {H6440}, and thy forehead {H4696} strong {H2389} against {H5980} their foreheads {H4696}.
However, I am making you as defiant and obstinate as they are.
Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.
Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads.
-
Jeremiah 1:18
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. -
Hebrews 11:32
¶ And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets: -
Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; -
Hebrews 11:27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. -
Exodus 11:4
¶ And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: -
Exodus 11:8
And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. -
Jeremiah 15:20
And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I [am] with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Ezekiel 3:8 serves as a powerful divine assurance to the prophet Ezekiel, preparing him for the immense challenge of confronting a rebellious and hardened people. In this verse, God promises to equip Ezekiel with an unwavering spirit and unyielding resolve, mirroring and even surpassing the stubbornness of those he was sent to address.
Context
This verse is found within the early chapters of the book of Ezekiel, specifically following God's detailed commission of Ezekiel as a prophet. After a profound vision of God's glory (Ezekiel 1), Ezekiel is called to be a "watchman" to the house of Israel, who are described repeatedly as a "rebellious house" (Ezekiel 2:5-7). God warns Ezekiel that the people will be unyielding and refuse to listen, making the prophet's task incredibly difficult. Therefore, God provides this specific promise of divine strengthening, ensuring Ezekiel possesses the necessary fortitude to deliver His message, regardless of the people's reception.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "strong" here is chazaq (חָזַק), which means to be firm, strong, courageous, or hardened. It implies not just physical strength but also a moral and spiritual fortitude, a steadfastness. The imagery of the "face" and "forehead" relates to appearance, demeanor, and resolve. A "hard forehead" was sometimes used to describe stubbornness (e.g., Isaiah 48:4), but here God is giving Ezekiel a divine counter-stubbornness, a holy resolve that will not flinch in the face of human obstinacy.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 3:8 offers profound encouragement for believers today. When called to stand for truth, share the Gospel, or live righteously in a challenging world, we often face opposition, apathy, or ridicule. This verse reminds us: