Ezekiel 3:10 Study Bible: Moreover he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.

◄ Ezekiel 3:10 ►

"Son of man," He added, "listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and take them to heart.

Son of man
The phrase "Son of man" is a title used frequently in the book of Ezekiel, emphasizing the prophet's humanity and his role as a representative of the people. In Hebrew, "ben adam" literally means "son of Adam," highlighting the connection to humanity's origins and the frailty of human nature. This title serves to remind Ezekiel of his humble position before God, contrasting the divine with the human. It underscores the responsibility placed upon him to convey God's messages faithfully, despite his human limitations.

listen carefully
The Hebrew root for "listen" is "shama," which implies not just hearing but also understanding and obeying. This command to "listen carefully" is a call to attentiveness and discernment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, listening was often associated with obedience, as hearing the words of a superior required a response. For Ezekiel, this means he must internalize God's words, allowing them to penetrate his heart and mind, preparing him to deliver them accurately to the people.

and take to heart
The phrase "take to heart" involves more than intellectual assent; it requires a deep, personal acceptance and commitment. The Hebrew concept of the heart, "lev," encompasses the mind, will, and emotions. Thus, Ezekiel is instructed to internalize God's words fully, allowing them to transform his inner being. This transformation is essential for the prophet, as it ensures that his message is not just a recitation but a heartfelt proclamation of divine truth.

all the words
The emphasis on "all the words" signifies the completeness and sufficiency of God's revelation. Ezekiel is not to pick and choose which parts of God's message to convey; he must deliver the entirety of it. This reflects the belief in the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, where every word is considered God-breathed and purposeful. For Ezekiel, this means a commitment to the full counsel of God, without alteration or omission.

I speak to you
The personal nature of "I speak to you" highlights the direct communication between God and Ezekiel. This divine-human interaction is foundational to the prophetic office, where the prophet serves as a mouthpiece for God. The intimacy of this communication underscores the privilege and responsibility Ezekiel holds. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire to reveal Himself to humanity, inviting them into a relationship through His spoken word.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites.

2. God
The speaker in this verse, instructing Ezekiel on how to receive His words.

3. Babylonian Exile
The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied, where the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon.

4. Israelites
The primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who were in need of repentance and restoration.

5. Vision of God
The broader context of Ezekiel's calling and commissioning, where he receives visions and instructions from God.

Teaching Points

Listening with Intent
Just as Ezekiel was instructed to listen carefully, believers are called to approach God's word with attentiveness and a readiness to understand.

Internalizing God's Word
The phrase "take them to heart" suggests a deep internalization of God's message, encouraging believers to meditate on and cherish Scripture.

Obedience to God's Instructions
Ezekiel's role as a prophet required obedience to God's words, reminding us of the importance of aligning our actions with God's will.

The Role of the Heart in Faith
The heart is central to our relationship with God, serving as the seat of our emotions, will, and understanding. We are called to engage our hearts fully with God's word.

Preparation for Service
Ezekiel's preparation involved listening and internalizing God's words, which is essential for anyone called to serve in ministry or share God's message.

Bible Study Questions

1. How can we ensure that we are truly listening to God's word in our daily lives, as Ezekiel was instructed to do?

2. What practical steps can we take to internalize Scripture and "take it to heart" in our spiritual journey?

3. In what ways does the context of the Babylonian exile enhance our understanding of Ezekiel's mission and message?

4. How do the additional scriptures connected to Ezekiel 3:10 deepen our understanding of the importance of God's word in our lives?

5. Reflect on a time when internalizing God's word helped you in a challenging situation. How can this experience encourage others in their faith journey?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 6:6
This verse emphasizes the importance of keeping God's words in one's heart, similar to the instruction given to Ezekiel.

Psalm 119:11
Highlights the value of internalizing God's word to avoid sin, paralleling the call for Ezekiel to take God's words to heart.

James 1:22
Encourages believers to be doers of the word, not just hearers, which aligns with the directive for Ezekiel to listen and internalize God's message.

Jeremiah 15:16
Describes the joy and nourishment found in God's words, reflecting the deep engagement Ezekiel is called to have with God's message.

Hebrews 4:12
Speaks to the living and active nature of God's word, which Ezekiel is to listen to and internalize.

Sermons

The Heart the Treasury of Truth	W. Greenhill, M. A.	Ezekiel 3:10
The Inpouring of Divine Fulness	J.R. Thomson	Ezekiel 3:10
Ambassadorship	J.D. Davies	Ezekiel 3:4-14

People

Ezekiel

Places

Chebar, Tel-abib

Topics

Carefully, Closely, Ears, Heart, Listen, Moreover, Open, Receive, Speak

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Ezekiel 3:10-11

5548 speech, divine

Library

Cæsarius of Arles.
He was born in the district of Chalons-sur-Saone, A. D. 470. He seems to have been early awakened, by a pious education, to vital Christianity. When he was between seven and eight years old, it would often happen that he would give a portion of his clothes to the poor whom he met, and would say, when he came home, that he had been, constrained to do so. When yet a youth, he entered the celebrated convent on the island of Lerins, (Lerina,) in Provence, from which a spirit of deep and practical piety …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Boniface, Apostle of the Germans.
BONIFACE, or Winfried, as they called him in Anglo-Saxon, born at Crediton in Devonshire, in 680, deserves to be honoured as the father of the German Church, although he was by no means the first who brought the seeds of the Gospel to Germany. Many had already laboured before him; but the efforts which had been made here and there did not suffice to secure the endurance of Christianity amongst the many perils to which it was exposed. Christianity needs to be linked with firm ecclesiastical institutions, …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [1331] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. Many foolish men have supposed that, if I were advanced to the rank of the episcopate, I should decline to address thee, or to keep up communication with thee by letter. But this is not so; since I am compelled by the very necessity of my position not to hold my peace. For it is written, Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet (Isai. lviii. 1). And again it is written, I have given thee for a watchman …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Greatness of the Soul,
AND UNSPEAKABLENESS 0F THE LOSS THEREOF; WITH THE CAUSES OF THE LOSING IT. FIRST PREACHED AT PINNER'S HALL and now ENLARGED AND PUBLISHED FOR GOOD. By JOHN BUNYAN, London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682 Faithfully reprinted from the Author's First Edition. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Our curiosity is naturally excited to discover what a poor, unlettered mechanic, whose book-learning had been limited to the contents of one volume, could by possibility know …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
'For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint.'--ISAIAH l. 7. What a striking contrast between the tone of these words and of the preceding! There all is gentleness, docility, still communion, submission, patient endurance. Here all is energy and determination, resistance and martial vigour. It is like the contrast between a priest and a warrior. And that gentleness is the parent of this boldness. The same Will which is all submission …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9

The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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