Ezekiel Chapter 2 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Ezekiel Chapter 2

1He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet, and I will speak to you."

2As he spoke to me, the spirit came into me and set me on my feet. Then I heard the one who was speaking to me.

3He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their fathers have sinned against me, right up to this very day."

4"They are stubborn children with hard hearts. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.'"

5"And whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are a rebellious house, they will know that a prophet has been among them."

6"And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them. Do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words, and do not be frightened by their looks, though they are a rebellious house."

7"You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are most rebellious."

8"But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you."

9Then I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me. In it was a rolled-up book.

10He spread it open in front of me. It was written on the inside and on the outside, and written in it were songs of sorrow, and mourning, and woe.

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Explanation

Ezekiel 2

In short

God calls Ezekiel to be a prophet and sends him to speak to the people of Israel, who have rejected God and refused to listen to him. God empowers Ezekiel with his Spirit and warns him not to fear their resistance, while commanding him to eat a scroll filled with messages of mourning and judgment.

Context

This chapter begins Ezekiel's calling as a prophet. In the verse just before (1:28), Ezekiel has seen a vision of God's throne and glory and has fallen on his face. Now God speaks to him directly. Ezekiel is being sent to Israel during a time when the nation has turned away from God through generations, and God knows they will reject his message. The Spirit of God comes upon Ezekiel to strengthen him for this difficult task.

What the text says

God tells Ezekiel to stand (verse 1), and when God speaks, his Spirit enters Ezekiel and lifts him to his feet (verse 2). God sends Ezekiel to "the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation" that has "transgressed against me" for generations (verse 3). Ezekiel is warned that the people are "impudent children and stiffhearted" (verse 4), but even if they refuse to listen, they will know a prophet has been among them (verse 5). God tells Ezekiel repeatedly not to fear them or be dismayed by their resistance, using images of "briers and thorns" and "scorpions" (verse 6). Whether they listen or not, Ezekiel must speak God's words (verse 7). Most importantly, Ezekiel himself must not become rebellious; instead he must "open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee" (verse 8). A hand extends toward Ezekiel holding a scroll, written on both sides with "lamentations, and mourning, and woe" (verses 9-10).

Takeaways

God equips his messenger with his own Spirit and courage for rejection.
The prophet's job is to speak God's message faithfully whether people listen or not.
The message itself contains hard words of judgment and sorrow.

Ezekiel 2 - Simple English