And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

EZEKIEL 2:3KJV
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Ezekiel 2:3 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 2:3 mean?

Ezekiel 2:3 describes God telling the prophet Ezekiel that he is being sent to the people of Israel, who are described as a rebellious nation that has consistently disobeyed God, just as their ancestors did. The verse highlights the ongoing nature of Israel’s resistance to God’s commands, right up to Ezekiel’s own time.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to Ezekiel, calling him “Son of man” and giving him a mission to confront the Israelites about their persistent unfaithfulness. The context is the beginning of Ezekiel’s prophetic calling, where God makes it clear that the people have a long history of rebellion, and Ezekiel’s task will not be easy because their stubbornness is deeply rooted.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 2:3

  • The word “rebellious” is מְרִי (meri), which means stubborn or defiant. This word emphasizes that the people are not just disobedient in a casual way, but are actively resisting God’s authority.
  • The term “nation” is גּוֹי (goy), which usually refers to non-Israelite nations. Here, it is striking because God uses it for Israel, suggesting that their behavior is no better than the nations they were supposed to be different from.
  • “Transgressed” is פָּשַׁע (pasha), meaning to break away or revolt. This word shows that the people’s actions are not accidental mistakes but deliberate acts of rebellion.

Why Ezekiel 2:3 matters

  • Ezekiel 2:3 makes it clear that God sees the rebellion of Israel as a long-standing problem, not just a recent development, which sets the stage for the tough message Ezekiel is about to deliver.
  • By calling Israel a “nation” (goy), God is making a pointed statement about how far they have strayed from their calling to be a holy people set apart from other nations.
  • The verse helps the reader understand the seriousness of Ezekiel’s mission and the deep-rooted nature of the people’s resistance, which explains why the rest of the book is filled with warnings and calls to repentance.

Where else these words appear

“rebellious” Hebrew H4775 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 14:4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
  • 2 Kings 18:20 Thou sayest,(but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
  • Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

“transgressed” Hebrew H6586 · used in 37 verses

  • 1 Kings 8:50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
  • Psalms 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
  • Jeremiah 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

“very” Hebrew H6106 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • 1 Kings 13:31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
  • Psalms 141:7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.