And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

EZEKIEL 2:6KJV
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Ezekiel 2:6 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 2:6 mean?

In Ezekiel 2:6, God tells Ezekiel not to let the people’s hostility stop him from facing them. Their words and expressions may be threatening, but Ezekiel is to speak to them without being ruled by fear.

God calls Ezekiel “son of man,” a way of addressing him as a human being. The briers, thorns and scorpions picture a painful and dangerous setting for his work. The people are called a “rebellious house,” meaning a group that resists God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 2:6

  • “dismayed” — חָתַת (ḥatat): The word can carry the sense of being shattered or overcome with fear. Here, the command reaches beyond feeling afraid to being unnerved by the people’s reaction.
  • “looks” — פָּנִים (panim): The Hebrew word often means “face.” In this verse, it points to the people’s faces or expressions as Ezekiel confronts them.

Why Ezekiel 2:6 matters

  • The warning includes more than spoken threats. “Their words” and “their looks” both come into view, so even a hostile expression is part of what Ezekiel must face.
  • The repeated command gives the sentence its emphasis. “Be not afraid” appears three times, surrounding the images of briers, thorns and scorpions.
  • The people’s response is not the measure of Ezekiel’s task. In the next verse, God tells him to speak whether they listen or refuse to listen.

Where else these words appear

“thorns” Hebrew H5544 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 28:24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

“scorpions” Hebrew H6137 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 8:15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
  • 1 Kings 12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
  • 2 Chronicles 10:11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

“rebellious” Hebrew H4805 · used in 21 verses

  • Numbers 17:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
  • Isaiah 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
  • Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

“dismayed” Hebrew H2865 · used in 48 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
  • Job 31:34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
  • Jeremiah 14:4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.