Ezekiel 2:6 But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.

◄ Ezekiel 2:6 ►

New International Version
And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.

English Standard Version
And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.

Berean Standard Bible
But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

New American Standard Bible
And as for you, son of man, you are not to fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; you are not to fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, since they are a rebellious house.

NASB 1995
“And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

NASB 1977
“And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now as for you, son of man, do not fear them and do not fear their words, though thistles and briers are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

Amplified Bible
And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words; though briars and thorns are all around you and you sit among scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

Christian Standard Bible
“But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words, though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or be discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house.

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

Contemporary English Version
Don't be afraid of them or of anything they say. You may think you're in the middle of a thorn patch or a bunch of scorpions. But be brave

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Son of man, don't be afraid of them or the things they say. Don't be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don't let the things they say frighten you. Don't be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people.

Good News Translation
"But you, mortal man, must not be afraid of them or of anything they say. They will defy and despise you; it will be like living among scorpions. Still, don't be afraid of those rebels or of anything they say.

International Standard Version
"Now as for you, Son of Man, never be afraid of them or of anything they have to say, because being with them will be like settling down to live among briers, thorn bushes, and scorpions! Don't be afraid of anything they have to say, and don't be awed by their appearance, since they are a rebellious group.

Majority Standard Bible
But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.

NET Bible
But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words--even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions--do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house!

New Heart English Bible
You, son of man, do not be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: do not be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

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

World English Bible
You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And you, son of man, you are not afraid of them, indeed, you are not afraid of their words, for briers and thorns are with you, and you are dwelling near scorpions, you are not afraid of their words, and you are not frightened of their faces, for they [are] a house of rebellion,

Young's Literal Translation
And thou, son of man, thou art not afraid of them, yea, of their words thou art not afraid, for briers and thorns are with thee, and near scorpions thou art dwelling, of their words thou art not afraid, and of their faces thou art not affrighted, for they are a rebellious house,

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou son of man, thou shalt not be afraid of them, and thou shalt not be afraid of their words, if rebels and thorns with thee, and thou art dwelling with scorpions: thou shalt not be afraid of their words, and thou shalt not be terrified from their face, for they a house of contradiction.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But as for you, son of man, you should not fear them, and you should not dread their words. For you are among unbelievers and subversives, and you are living with scorpions. You should not fear their words, and you should not dread their faces. For they are a provoking house.

New American Bible
But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house.

New Revised Standard Version
And you, O mortal, do not be afraid of them, and do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words, and do not be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And you, Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be dismayed by their words, for they will deny you and denounce you; for you dwell among scorpions; fear not their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you, son of man, you shall not be afraid of them, nor by their words shall you be moved, for they slander and they reject you, because you dwell among scorpions. You shall not be afraid of their words, nor by their faces shall you be shaken, because they are a rebellious house

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though defiers and despisers be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou, son of man, fear them not, nor be dismayed at their face; (for they will madden and will rise up against thee round about, and thou dwellest in the midst of scorpions): be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their countenance, for it is a provoking house.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Ezekiel's Call
…5And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house. 7But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Luke 12:4-5
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. / But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Isaiah 51:12
“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

Jeremiah 1:17
Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.

John 15:18-20
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

2 Timothy 1:7-8
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. / So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Acts 18:9-10
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. / For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”

1 Peter 4:14
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Jeremiah 26:12-15
But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. / So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you. / As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. ...

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Isaiah 8:12-13
“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. / The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.

Treasury of Scripture

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

be not

Ezekiel 3:8,9
Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads…

2 Kings 1:15
And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

briers, or, rebels

2 Samuel 23:6,7
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: …

Isaiah 9:18
For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

Jeremiah 6:28
They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

scorpions

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Revelation 9:3-6
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power…

though they

Ezekiel 3:9,26,27
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house…

Proverbs 30:13,14
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up…

Isaiah 51:7
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

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Ezekiel 2

1. Ezekiel's commission
6. His instruction
9. The scroll of his heavy prophecy

Berean Study Bible

And you, 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" underscores the contrast between the divine and the human, reminding Ezekiel of his mortal nature and the humility required in his prophetic mission. This title also foreshadows the use of "Son of Man" in the New Testament, where it is applied to Jesus Christ, highlighting His incarnation and identification with humanity.

do not be afraid of them
The command "do not be afraid" is a recurring biblical exhortation, often given to God's servants when they face daunting tasks or opposition. In Hebrew, the word for "afraid" is "yare," which conveys a sense of dread or terror. God reassures Ezekiel, as He does many others throughout Scripture, that His presence and power are greater than any human threat. This encouragement is a reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness, calling believers to trust in Him despite external circumstances.

or their words
Words can be powerful weapons, and the phrase "or their words" acknowledges the potential harm of verbal attacks. In the context of Ezekiel's ministry, the people of Israel were rebellious and resistant to God's message. The Hebrew term for "words" here is "devarim," which can also mean "things" or "matters," indicating the broader scope of opposition Ezekiel might face. This highlights the importance of spiritual resilience and the need to focus on God's truth rather than human criticism.

though briers and thorns are all around you
"Briers and thorns" symbolize the difficulties and obstacles Ezekiel would encounter in his prophetic mission. In the ancient Near East, these terms were often used metaphorically to describe hostile environments or adversarial people. The imagery suggests that Ezekiel's path would not be easy, yet he is called to persevere. This metaphor also reflects the curse of Genesis 3:18, where thorns and thistles are a result of the fall, reminding us of the fallen world's resistance to God's word.

and you live among scorpions
The mention of "scorpions" further intensifies the imagery of danger and hostility. Scorpions, known for their painful sting, represent the potential harm from those who oppose God's message. In the ancient world, scorpions were feared creatures, and their presence in this passage underscores the severity of the opposition Ezekiel would face. This serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual warfare inherent in proclaiming God's truth and the need for divine protection.

Do not be afraid of their words
The repetition of "do not be afraid" emphasizes the importance of courage and faith in the face of adversity. The focus on "their words" again highlights the potential for verbal persecution and the need for steadfastness. This reassurance is a call to prioritize God's voice over human opinion, encouraging believers to remain faithful to their calling despite opposition.

or dismayed by their presence
The word "dismayed" in Hebrew is "chathath," which conveys a sense of being shattered or broken. The phrase "by their presence" suggests the intimidating nature of those who oppose God's message. Ezekiel is urged not to be overwhelmed by the physical or psychological presence of his adversaries. This is a call to spiritual fortitude, reminding believers that God's presence is more powerful than any earthly threat.

though they are a rebellious house
The term "rebellious house" refers to the people of Israel, who had consistently turned away from God's commandments. In Hebrew, "rebellious" is "meri," indicating a willful defiance against divine authority. This characterization of Israel sets the stage for the challenges Ezekiel would face, as he was tasked with delivering God's message to a stubborn and obstinate people. It serves as a sobering reminder of the human tendency to resist God's will and the need for repentance and obedience.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Briers and thorns.--These words occur only here, but their meaning is sufficiently plain. Briers, indeed, might admit of the marginal translation, rebels, but both words should be taken together, either as adjectives or nouns, and the latter is more in accordance with the following "scorpions," and with the general strongly figurative style of Ezekiel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Though briers and thorns be with thee. The two Hebrew nouns are not found elsewhere, and have consequently puzzled translators. The LXX. gives two verbs, παροιστρήσπυσιν καὶ ἐπισυστήσονται ἐπὶ σὲ; the Vulgate, increduli et subversores. The words, however, are formed from roots that imply "pricking" or "burning," and the Authorized Version rendering, followed by the Revised Version, is tenable enough. A cognate form of the first is found in Ezekiel 28:24, and there the LXX. gives σκόλοψ, and the Vulgate, spina. A like figurative use of "scorpions" is found in 1 Kings 12:11 (but here the reference may be to some scorpion like scourge) and Ecclus. 26:7 (compare also our Lord's words in Luke 10:19). Be not afraid Compare the like command in Jeremiah 1:17. The words imply, probably, a past as well as a future experience. Ezekiel had already known what it was to dwell among those whose hearts were venomous as scorpions. The comparison was a sufficiently familiar one among both Eastern and Greek writers.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But you,
וְאַתָּ֣ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of man,
אָ֠דָם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be afraid
תִּירָ֨א (tî·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

of them
מֵהֶ֜ם (mê·hem)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

or their words.
וּמִדִּבְרֵיהֶ֣ם (ū·mid·diḇ·rê·hem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be afraid,
תִּירָ֗א (tî·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

though
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

briers
סָרָבִ֤ים (sā·rā·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5621: Perhaps thorns

and thorns
וְסַלּוֹנִים֙ (wə·sal·lō·w·nîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5544: A prickle

surround
אוֹתָ֔ךְ (’ō·w·ṯāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

you,
אַתָּ֣ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

and you dwell
יוֹשֵׁ֑ב (yō·wō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

among
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

scorpions.
עַקְרַבִּ֖ים (‘aq·rab·bîm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6137: A scorpion, a scourge, knotted whip

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be afraid
תִּירָא֙ (tî·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

of their words
מִדִּבְרֵיהֶ֤ם (mid·diḇ·rê·hem)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

or dismayed
תֵּחָ֔ת (tê·ḥāṯ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2865: To prostrate, to break down, either, by violence, by confusion and fear

by their presence,
וּמִפְּנֵיהֶ֣ם (ū·mip·pə·nê·hem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

though
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they are a rebellious
מְרִ֖י (mə·rî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4805: Bitterness, rebellion, bitter, rebellious

house.
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 2:6 You son of man don't be afraid (Ezek. Eze Ezk)