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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 3:8 Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/3-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/26_Ezk_03_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 3:8 - Ezekiel Eats the Scroll" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm" title="Ezekiel 3:7">◄</a> Ezekiel 3:8 <a href="/ezekiel/3-9.htm" title="Ezekiel 3:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezekiel/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face just as hard as their faces, and your forehead just as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face as strong as their faces and your forehead as strong as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />so I will make you as stubborn as they are. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Yet, I will make you as stubborn and as hardheaded as they are.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Now I will make you as stubborn and as tough as they are. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So pay attention! I'm going to make you just as obstinate and unyielding as they are.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"I have made your face adamant to match their faces, and your forehead hard to match their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Look, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face strong against their face, and your forehead strong against their forehead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Lo, I have made thy face strong against their face, and thy forehead strong against their forehead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Behold, I gave thy face strong over against their face, and thy forehead strong over against their forehead.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Behold I have made thy face stronger than their faces: and thy forehead harder than their foreheads. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face stronger than their faces, and your forehead harder than their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Look! I make your face as hard as theirs, and your brow as stubborn as theirs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />See, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Behold, I have hardened your face against their faces, and your forehead I have set firm against their forehead<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And, behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and I will strengthen thy power against their power.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=461" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Ezekiel Eats the Scroll</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: hin·nêh (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">Behold,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: nā·ṯat·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">I will make</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pā·ne·ḵā (N-cpc:: 2ms) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">your face</a> <a href="/hebrew/2389.htm" title="2389: ḥă·zā·qîm (Adj-mp) -- Strong, stout, mighty. From chazaq; strong.">as hard</a> <a href="/hebrew/5980.htm" title="5980: lə·‘um·maṯ (Prep-l) -- Close by, side by side with. From amam; conjunction, i.e. Society; mostly adverb or preposition, near, beside, along with.">as</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pə·nê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">their faces,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4696.htm" title="4696: miṣ·ḥă·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Brow, forehead. From an unused root meaning to be clear, i.e. Conspicuous; the forehead.">and your forehead</a> <a href="/hebrew/2389.htm" title="2389: ḥā·zāq (Adj-ms) -- Strong, stout, mighty. From chazaq; strong.">as hard</a> <a href="/hebrew/5980.htm" title="5980: lə·‘um·maṯ (Prep-l) -- Close by, side by side with. From amam; conjunction, i.e. Society; mostly adverb or preposition, near, beside, along with.">as</a> <a href="/hebrew/4696.htm" title="4696: miṣ·ḥām (N-msc:: 3mp) -- Brow, forehead. From an unused root meaning to be clear, i.e. Conspicuous; the forehead.">their foreheads.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or dismayed at their presence, even though they are a rebellious house.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/1-18.htm">Jeremiah 1:18</a></span><br />Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/50-7.htm">Isaiah 50:7</a></span><br />Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/15-20.htm">Jeremiah 15:20</a></span><br />Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4</a></span><br />For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51</a></span><br />You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-3.htm">Jeremiah 5:3</a></span><br />O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/1-7.htm">2 Timothy 1:7</a></span><br />For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a></span><br />And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-15.htm">Matthew 13:15</a></span><br />For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/28-27.htm">Acts 28:27</a></span><br />For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-8.htm">Romans 11:8</a></span><br />as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/3-14.htm">2 Corinthians 3:14</a></span><br />But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8</a></span><br />do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-7.htm">Revelation 2:7</a></span><br />He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9</a></span><br />The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/4-15.htm">Exodus 4:15,16</a></b></br> And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/11-4.htm">Exodus 11:4-8</a></b></br> And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/21-20.htm">1 Kings 21:20</a></b></br> And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found <i>thee</i>: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/3-3.htm">Brow</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-13.htm">Brows</a> <a href="/ezekiel/2-1.htm">Face</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-15.htm">Faces</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Forehead</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-17.htm">Foreheads</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Hardened</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-39.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/songs/8-6.htm">Unyielding</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/3-9.htm">Brow</a> <a href="/revelation/7-4.htm">Brows</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-23.htm">Face</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-18.htm">Faces</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-9.htm">Forehead</a> <a href="/ezekiel/9-4.htm">Foreheads</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-29.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/daniel/5-20.htm">Hardened</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-14.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/exodus/7-14.htm">Unyielding</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/3-1.htm">Ezekiel eats the scroll</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/3-4.htm">God encourages him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/3-15.htm">God shows him the rule of prophecy</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/3-22.htm">God shuts and opens the prophet's mouth</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces</b><br>This phrase indicates divine empowerment and resolve. In the context of Ezekiel's prophetic mission, God is preparing him to confront a rebellious and obstinate people. The hardening of Ezekiel's face symbolizes the strength and determination needed to deliver God's message without fear or compromise. This mirrors the cultural context of ancient Near Eastern prophets who often faced opposition and hostility. The phrase also echoes the biblical theme of God equipping His servants for their tasks, similar to how He strengthened Moses (<a href="/exodus/4-15.htm">Exodus 4:15-16</a>) and Jeremiah (<a href="/jeremiah/1-18.htm">Jeremiah 1:18</a>).<p><b>and your forehead as hard as their foreheads</b><br>The forehead represents determination and resilience. In ancient cultures, the forehead was often seen as a symbol of one's resolve and character. By making Ezekiel's forehead hard, God is ensuring that he can withstand the stubbornness and resistance of the people of Israel. This imagery is reminiscent of the "set face" of Jesus as He resolutely headed towards Jerusalem (<a href="/luke/9-51.htm">Luke 9:51</a>), indicating a prophetic type of Christ's unwavering commitment to His mission. The hardening also serves as a protective measure, ensuring that Ezekiel remains steadfast in the face of potential ridicule or persecution, much like the armor of God described in <a href="/ephesians/6-10.htm">Ephesians 6:10-18</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. Known for his vivid visions and symbolic acts.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The speaker in this verse, empowering Ezekiel to stand firm against opposition.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, often described as rebellious and hard-hearted.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonian_exile.htm">Babylonian Exile</a></b><br>The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied, a period of great trial and testing for the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>Though not directly mentioned in this verse, it is central to Ezekiel's prophecies, as he often speaks of its destruction and eventual restoration.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_empowerment.htm">Divine Empowerment</a></b><br>God equips those He calls. Just as He made Ezekiel's face and forehead hard, He strengthens us to stand firm in our faith and mission.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/facing_opposition.htm">Facing Opposition</a></b><br>Believers should expect resistance when delivering God's truth. Like Ezekiel, we must be prepared to face it with courage and resilience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_resolve.htm">Spiritual Resolve</a></b><br>The hardening of Ezekiel's face and forehead symbolizes the need for spiritual resolve. We must be unwavering in our commitment to God's word.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/rebellion_and_hard-heartedness.htm">Rebellion and Hard-heartedness</a></b><br>The Israelites' resistance serves as a warning against hard-heartedness. We must remain open to God's correction and guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prophetic_mission.htm">Prophetic Mission</a></b><br>Ezekiel's mission highlights the importance of obedience to God's call, regardless of the challenges or the audience's response.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_precedent_for_ezekiel_38's_attack.htm">If Ezekiel 38 describes events yet to come, why is there no clear archaeological or historical precedent for such a massive, unified attack on Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_fear.htm">What does 'face like flint' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_ezekiel_9_6_show_god's_love.htm">How does Ezekiel 9:6 reconcile a loving God with the command to kill everyone, including children and the elderly?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/inconsistencies_in_ezekiel_1_vs._isaiah_6.htm">Are there any inconsistencies between Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1) and visions of divine glory in other scriptural passages, such as Isaiah 6 or Revelation 4?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">Thy face strong against their faces.</span>--The word <span class= "ital">strong </span>is the same here as that rendered <span class= "ital">impudent </span>(marg. <span class= "ital">stiff</span>) in <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm" title="But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.">Ezekiel 3:7</a>. Of course it must have a different shade of meaning in its application to the rebellious people and to the prophet; but the main thought is taken from the figure of horned animals in their contests, and God promises Ezekiel to make him in the struggle stronger than those who oppose him. The same thing is expressed by another figure in <a href="/ezekiel/3-9.htm" title="As an adamant harder than flint have I made your forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.">Ezekiel 3:9</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I have made thy face strong;</span> literally, as in the Revised Version, <span class="accented">hard.</span> Ezekiel's name was at once <span class="accented">nomen et omen.</span> Hard as Israel might be, he could be made <span class="accented">harder, i.e.</span> stronger, than they, end should prevail against them (compare the parallels of <a href="/isaiah/1-7.htm">Isaiah 1:7</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/1-18.htm">Jeremiah 1:18</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/15-20.htm">Jeremiah 15:20</a>). The boldness of God's prophets is a strictly supernatural gift. Whatever persistency there may be in evil, they will be able to meet it, perhaps to overcome it, by a greater persistency in good. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Behold,</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנֵּ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will make</span><br /><span class="heb">נָתַ֧תִּי</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṯat·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your face</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּנֶ֛יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(pā·ne·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as hard</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲזָקִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·zā·qîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2389.htm">Strong's 2389: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strong, stout, mighty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as</span><br /><span class="heb">לְעֻמַּ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(lə·‘um·maṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5980.htm">Strong's 5980: </a> </span><span class="str2">Society, near, beside, along with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their faces,</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(pə·nê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and your forehead</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְחֲךָ֥</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·ḥă·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4696.htm">Strong's 4696: </a> </span><span class="str2">Brow, forehead</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as hard</span><br /><span class="heb">חָזָ֖ק</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·zāq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2389.htm">Strong's 2389: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strong, stout, mighty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as</span><br /><span class="heb">לְעֻמַּ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(lə·‘um·maṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5980.htm">Strong's 5980: </a> </span><span class="str2">Society, near, beside, along with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their foreheads.</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְחָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·ḥām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4696.htm">Strong's 4696: </a> </span><span class="str2">Brow, forehead</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/3-8.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 3:8 Behold I have made your face hard (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 3:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 3:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/3-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 3:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 3:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>