17 Son H1121 of man, H120 I have made H5414 thee a watchman H6822 unto the house H1004 of Israel: H3478 therefore hear H8085 the word H1697 at my mouth, H6310 and give them warning H2094 from me.
Also I set H6965 watchmen H6822 over you, saying, Hearken H7181 to the sound H6963 of the trumpet. H7782 But they said, H559 We will not hearken. H7181
And what cause H7379 soever shall come H935 to you of your brethren H251 that dwell H3427 in their cities, H5892 between blood H1818 and blood, H1818 between law H8451 and commandment, H4687 statutes H2706 and judgments, H4941 ye shall even warn H2094 them that they trespass H816 not against the LORD, H3068 and so wrath H7110 come upon you, and upon your brethren: H251 this H3541 do, H6213 and ye shall not trespass. H816
Obey G3982 them that have the rule G2233 over you, G5216 and G2532 submit yourselves: G5226 for G1063 they G846 watch G69 for G5228 your G5216 souls, G5590 as G5613 they that must give G591 account, G3056 that G2443 they may do G4160 it G5124 with G3326 joy, G5479 and G2532 not G3361 with grief: G4727 for G1063 that G5124 is unprofitable G255 for you. G5213
I have set H6485 watchmen H8104 upon thy walls, H2346 O Jerusalem, H3389 which shall never H8548 hold their peace H2814 day H3117 nor night: H3915 ye that make mention H2142 of the LORD, H3068 keep not silence, H1824
Now G1161 we exhort G3870 you, G5209 brethren, G80 warn G3560 them that are unruly, G813 comfort G3888 the feebleminded, G3642 support G472 the weak, G772 be patient G3114 toward G4314 all G3956 men.
The watchmen H8104 that go about H5437 the city H5892 found H4672 me: to whom I said, Saw H7200 ye him whom my soul H5315 loveth? H157
And G2532 G3739 God G2316 hath set G5087 some G3303 in G1722 the church, G1577 first G4412 apostles, G652 secondarily G1208 prophets, G4396 thirdly G5154 teachers, G1320 after that G1899 miracles, G1411 then G1534 gifts G5486 of healings, G2386 helps, G484 governments, G2941 diversities G1085 of tongues. G1100
Take heed G4337 therefore G3767 unto yourselves, G1438 and G2532 to all G3956 the flock, G4168 over G1722 the which G3739 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 hath made G5087 you G5209 overseers, G1985 to feed G4165 the church G1577 of God, G2316 which G3739 he hath purchased G4046 with G1223 his own G2398 blood. G129 For G1063 I G1473 know G1492 this, G5124 that G3754 after G3326 my G3450 departing G867 shall grievous G926 wolves G3074 enter in G1525 among G1519 you, G5209 not G3361 sparing G5339 the flock. G4168 Also G2532 of G1537 your G5216 own selves G846 shall G450 men G435 arise, G450 speaking G2980 perverse things, G1294 to draw away G645 disciples G3101 after G3694 them. G846 Therefore G1352 watch, G1127 and remember, G3421 that G3754 by the space of three years G5148 I ceased G3973 not G3756 to warn G3560 every G1538 one G1520 night G3571 and G2532 day G2250 with G3326 tears. G1144
But G1161 when he saw G1492 many G4183 of the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 Sadducees G4523 come G2064 to G1909 his G846 baptism, G908 he said G2036 unto them, G846 O generation G1081 of vipers, G2191 who G5101 hath warned G5263 you G5213 to flee G5343 from G575 the wrath G3709 to come? G3195
Son H1121 of man, H120 speak H1696 to the children H1121 of thy people, H5971 and say H559 unto them, When I bring H935 the sword H2719 upon a land, H776 if the people H5971 of the land H776 take H3947 a H259 man H376 of their coasts, H7097 and set H5414 him for their watchman: H6822 If when he seeth H7200 the sword H2719 come H935 upon the land, H776 he blow H8628 the trumpet, H7782 and warn H2094 the people; H5971 Then whosoever H8085 heareth H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 and taketh not warning; H2094 if the sword H2719 come, H935 and take him away, H3947 his blood H1818 shall be upon his own head. H7218 He heard H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 and took not warning; H2094 his blood H1818 shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning H2094 shall deliver H4422 his soul. H5315 But if the watchman H6822 see H7200 the sword H2719 come, H935 and blow H8628 not the trumpet, H7782 and the people H5971 be not warned; H2094 if the sword H2719 come, H935 and take H3947 any person H5315 from among them, he is taken away H3947 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1875 at the watchman's H6822 hand. H3027 So thou, O son H1121 of man, H120 I have set H5414 thee a watchman H6822 unto the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 therefore thou shalt hear H8085 the word H1697 at my mouth, H6310 and warn H2094 them from me. When I say H559 unto the wicked, H7563 O wicked H7563 man, thou shalt surely H4191 die; H4191 if thou dost not speak H1696 to warn H2094 the wicked H7563 from his way, H1870 that wicked H7563 man shall die H4191 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1245 at thine hand. H3027 Nevertheless, if thou warn H2094 the wicked H7563 of his way H1870 to turn H7725 from it; if he do not turn H7725 from his way, H1870 he shall die H4191 in his iniquity; H5771 but thou hast delivered H5337 thy soul. H5315
For there shall be H3426 a day, H3117 that the watchmen H5341 upon the mount H2022 Ephraim H669 shall cry, H7121 Arise H6965 ye, and let us go up H5927 to Zion H6726 unto the LORD H3068 our God. H430
To whom shall I speak, H1696 and give warning, H5749 that they may hear? H8085 behold, their ear H241 is uncircumcised, H6189 and they cannot H3201 hearken: H7181 behold, the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 is unto them a reproach; H2781 they have no delight H2654 in it.
The burden H4853 of Dumah. H1746 He calleth H7121 to me out of Seir, H8165 Watchman, H8104 what of the night? H3915 Watchman, H8104 what of the night? H3915 The watchman H8104 said, H559 The morning H1242 cometh, H857 and also the night: H3915 if ye will enquire, H1158 enquire H1158 ye: return, H7725 come. H857
And he cried, H7121 A lion: H738 My lord, H136 I stand H5975 continually H8548 upon the watchtower H4707 in the daytime, H3119 and I am set H5324 in my ward H4931 whole nights: H3915
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 3
Commentary on Ezekiel 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
In this chapter we have the further preparation of the prophet for the work to which God called him.
Eze 3:1-15
These verses are fitly joined by some translators to the foregoing chapter, as being of a piece with it and a continuation of the same vision. The prophets received the word from God that they might deliver it to the people of God, furnished themselves that they might furnish them with the knowledge of the mind and will of God. Now here the prophet is taught,
Eze 3:16-21
These further instructions God gave to the prophet at the end of seven days, that is, on the seventh day after the vision he had; and it is very probably that both that and this were on the sabbath day, which the house of Israel, even in their captivity, observed as well as they could in those circumstances. We do not find that their conquerors and oppressors tied them to any constant service, as their Egyptian task-masters had formerly done, but that they might observe the sabbath-rest for a sign to distinguish between them and their neighbours; but for the sabbath-work they had not the convenience of temple or synagogue, only it should seem they had a place by the river side where prayer was wont to be made (as Acts 16:13); there they met on the sabbath day; there their enemies upbraided them with the songs of Zion (Ps. 137:1, 3); there Ezekiel met them, and the word of the Lord then and there came to him. He that had been musing and meditating on the things of God all the week was fit to speak to the people in God's name on the sabbath day, and disposed to hear God speak to him. This sabbath day Ezekiel was not so honoured with visions of the glory of God as he had been the sabbath before; but he is plainly, and by a very common similitude, told his duty, which he is to communicate to the people. Note, Raptures and transports of joy are not the daily bread of God's children, however they may upon special occasions be feasted with them. We must not deny but that we have truly communion with God (1 Jn. 1:3) though we have it not always so sensibly as at some times. And, though the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven may sometimes be looked into, yet ordinarily it is plain preaching that is most for edification. God here tells the prophet what his office was, and what the duty of that office; and this (we may suppose) he was to tell the people, that they might attend to what he said and improve it accordingly. Note, It is good for people to know and consider what a charge their ministers have of them and what an account they must shortly give of that charge. Observe,
Eze 3:22-27
After all this large and magnificent discovery which God had made of himself to the prophet, and the full instructions he had given him how to deal with those to whom he sent him with an ample commission, we should have expected presently to see him preaching the word of God to a great congregation of Israel; but here we find it quite otherwise. his work here, at first, seems not at all proportionable to the pomp of his call.