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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 3:6 not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/3-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/26_Ezk_03_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 3:6 - Ezekiel Eats the Scroll" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. 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Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. <a href="/nlt/ezekiel/3.htm">New Living Translation</a> No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen! <a href="/esv/ezekiel/3.htm">English Standard Version</a> not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. <a href="/bsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. <a href="/kjv/ezekiel/3.htm">King James Bible</a> Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. <a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/3.htm">New King James Version</a> not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. <a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to the people who understand you; <a href="/nasb/ezekiel/3.htm">NASB 1995</a> nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; <a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a> nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; <a href="/lsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> nor to many peoples of unintelligible lips or a difficult tongue, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; <a href="/amp/ezekiel/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a> not to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you and pay attention to My message; <a href="/csb/ezekiel/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> not to the many peoples of unintelligible speech or a difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. No doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. <a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> You are not being sent to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. No doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. <a href="/asv/ezekiel/3.htm">American Standard Version</a> not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee. <a href="/erv/ezekiel/3.htm">English Revised Version</a> not to many peoples of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee. <a href="/gwt/ezekiel/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> I am not sending you to nations whose language is hard to understand, difficult to speak, or whose words you cannot understand. If I send you to those nations, they will certainly listen to you. <a href="/gnt/ezekiel/3.htm">Good News Translation</a> If I sent you to great nations that spoke difficult languages you didn't understand, they would listen to you. <a href="/isv/ezekiel/3.htm">International Standard Version</a> This isn't a large group of people whose speech is unintelligible to you or whose language is difficult for you to comprehend. Frankly, if I had sent you to that kind of people, they would certainly have listened to you! <a href="/msb/ezekiel/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. <a href="/net/ezekiel/3.htm">NET Bible</a> not to many peoples of unintelligible speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand--surely if I had sent you to them, they would listen to you! <a href="/nheb/ezekiel/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. <a href="/wbt/ezekiel/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Not to many people of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened to thee. <a href="/web/ezekiel/3.htm">World English Bible</a> not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you can’t understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> not to many peoples, deep of lip and heavy of tongue, whose words you do not understand. If I had not sent you to them—they listen to you, <a href="/ylt/ezekiel/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> not unto many peoples, deep of lip and heavy of tongue, whose words thou dost not understand. If I had not sent thee unto them -- they, they do hearken unto thee, <a href="/slt/ezekiel/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Not to many peoples deep of lip and heavy of tongue which thou wilt not hear their words If to them I sent thee, they will hear to thee.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ezekiel/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Nor to many nations of a strange speech, and of an unknown tongue, whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them, they would hearken to thee. <a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> and not to many peoples of profound words or of an unknown language, whose words you would not be able to understand. But if you were sent to them, they would listen to you. <a href="/nabre/ezekiel/3.htm">New American Bible</a> Nor to many nations of obscure speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. For if I were to send you to these, they would listen to you. <a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Nor to many peoples whose speech you do not understand. Surely, if I send you to them, they would listen to you. <a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Neither to many nations whose speech you have not heard, and if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/ezekiel/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> not to many peoples of an unintelligible speech and of a slow tongue, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee. <a href="/sep/ezekiel/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> neither to many nations of other speech and other tongues, nor of harsh language, whose words thou wouldest not understand: although if I had sent thee to such, they would have hearkened to thee. <a href="/parallel/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=436" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/3.htm">Ezekiel Eats the Scroll</a> …5For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— 6<a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">not</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/7227.htm" title="7227: rab·bîm (Adj-mp) -- Much, many, great. By contracted from rabab; abundant.">the many</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am·mîm (N-mp) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">peoples</a> <a href="/hebrew/6012.htm" title="6012: ‘im·qê (Adj-mpc) -- Deep, unfathomable. From amaq; deep.">of unfamiliar</a> <a href="/hebrew/8193.htm" title="8193: śā·p̄āh (N-fs) -- Or sepheth; probably from caphah or shaphah through the idea of termination; the lip; by implication, language; by analogy, a margin.">speech</a> <a href="/hebrew/3515.htm" title="3515: wə·ḵiḇ·ḏê (Conj-w:: Adj-mpc) -- Heavy. From kabad; heavy; figuratively in a good sense or in a bad sense.">and difficult</a> <a href="/hebrew/3956.htm" title="3956: lā·šō·wn (N-cs) -- Tongue. Or lashon; also feminine lshonah; from lashan; the tongue, used literally, and figuratively.">language</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">whose</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: diḇ·rê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">words</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">you cannot</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: ṯiš·ma‘ (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">understand.</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">Surely</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: šə·laḥ·tî·ḵā (V-Qal-Perf-1cs:: 2ms) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">if I had sent you</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. ">to them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hêm·māh (Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">they</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: yiš·mə·‘ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">would have listened</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- To, into, towards. ">to you.</a> 7But 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/11-21.htm">Matthew 11:21-24</a> “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ... <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Jonah 3:5-10</a> And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. ... <a href="/acts/13-46.htm">Acts 13:46-47</a> Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. / For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” <a href="/romans/10-19.htm">Romans 10:19-21</a> I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.” / And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.” / But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” <a href="/matthew/10-14.htm">Matthew 10:14-15</a> And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. / Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. <a href="/luke/10-13.htm">Luke 10:13-15</a> Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! <a href="/acts/28-25.htm">Acts 28:25-28</a> They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: / ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / 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.’ ... <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a> 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.” <a href="/john/12-37.htm">John 12:37-41</a> Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: ... <a href="/jeremiah/5-15.htm">Jeremiah 5:15</a> Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand. <a href="/deuteronomy/32-21.htm">Deuteronomy 32:21</a> They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding. <a href="/isaiah/28-11.htm">Isaiah 28:11-12</a> Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people / to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen. <a href="/1_corinthians/14-21.htm">1 Corinthians 14:21</a> It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.” <a href="/matthew/13-14.htm">Matthew 13:14-15</a> In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / 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.’ <a href="/romans/11-8.htm">Romans 11:8</a> 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.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you.Surely, etc.<a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Jonah 3:5-10</a> So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them… <a href="/matthew/11-20.htm">Matthew 11:20-24</a> Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: … <a href="/matthew/12-41.htm">Matthew 12:41,42</a> The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/lamentations/2-14.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Difficult</a> <a href="/ezekiel/2-8.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/jeremiah/44-16.htm">Hearken</a> <a href="/jeremiah/44-23.htm">Hearkened</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Heavy</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Language</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Obscure</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-45.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Slow</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-22.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Talk</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/jeremiah/42-22.htm">Understand</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm">Unintelligible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-4.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/10-5.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-18.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/daniel/2-11.htm">Difficult</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/daniel/11-39.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Hearken</a> <a href="/daniel/1-14.htm">Hearkened</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-12.htm">Heavy</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Language</a> <a href="/ezekiel/28-3.htm">Obscure</a> <a href="/ezekiel/11-17.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-7.htm">Slow</a> <a href="/micah/6-12.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-21.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-22.htm">Talk</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-26.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-3.htm">Understand</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-19.htm">Unintelligible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-10.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 3</div>1. <a href="/ezekiel/3-1.htm">Ezekiel eats the scroll</a> 4. <a href="/ezekiel/3-4.htm">God encourages him</a> 15. <a href="/ezekiel/3-15.htm">God shows him the rule of prophecy</a> 22. <a href="/ezekiel/3-22.htm">God shuts and opens the prophet's mouth</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand This phrase highlights the specific audience God is addressing through Ezekiel. The "many peoples" refers to the Gentile nations surrounding Israel, known for their diverse languages and cultures. Historically, these nations included the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and others, each with distinct languages and customs. The mention of "unfamiliar speech and difficult language" underscores the communication barrier that would exist if Ezekiel were sent to them. This reflects the broader biblical theme of language as a barrier, first introduced at the Tower of Babel (<a href="/genesis/11.htm">Genesis 11:1-9</a>), where God confused human language to scatter people across the earth. The inability to understand their words symbolizes the spiritual and cultural divide between Israel and the Gentile nations. This context emphasizes the unique calling of Israel as God's chosen people, who were expected to understand and respond to His message.Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you This statement contrasts the expected response of the Gentile nations with that of Israel. It suggests that the Gentiles, despite their unfamiliarity with God's laws, might have been more receptive to Ezekiel's prophetic message than Israel, who had the Law and the Prophets. This echoes the theme found in the New Testament, where Jesus and the apostles often found greater faith among Gentiles than among the Jewish people (e.g., <a href="/matthew/8-10.htm">Matthew 8:10</a>, <a href="/acts/13-46.htm">Acts 13:46-48</a>). The implication is a critique of Israel's hard-heartedness and a foreshadowing of the Gospel's eventual spread to the Gentiles. This also serves as a prophetic type of Christ, who, like Ezekiel, was sent to His own people but was often rejected, leading to the message of salvation being extended to all nations. The phrase underscores the accountability of those who have received God's revelation and the openness of God's grace to all who are willing to listen.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a> A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. His role was to be a watchman for the house of Israel. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_house_of_israel.htm">The House of Israel</a> The primary audience of Ezekiel's prophetic messages. They were in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry. 3. <a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a> The place of exile for the Israelites. It represents a foreign land with different languages and cultures. 4. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The speaker in this passage, who is commissioning Ezekiel and expressing His frustration with Israel's stubbornness. 5. <a href="/topical/f/foreign_nations.htm">Foreign Nations</a> Referenced indirectly as those who would have listened to God's message if they had been sent a prophet like Ezekiel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_challenge_of_familiarity.htm">The Challenge of Familiarity</a> Sometimes, those closest to us are the hardest to reach with the truth. Familiarity can breed contempt or indifference, making it difficult for the message to penetrate. <a href="/topical/t/the_responsibility_of_the_messenger.htm">The Responsibility of the Messenger</a> Like Ezekiel, we are called to be faithful in delivering God's message, regardless of the audience's response. Our responsibility is to speak truth, not to ensure acceptance. <a href="/topical/t/the_openness_of_outsiders.htm">The Openness of Outsiders</a> Often, those outside our immediate circle or culture may be more receptive to the Gospel. This challenges us to broaden our outreach and not limit our witness to familiar groups. <a href="/topical/t/the_sovereignty_of_god_in_mission.htm">The Sovereignty of God in Mission</a> God knows the hearts of all people and directs His messengers accordingly. Trust in His wisdom and timing, even when the task seems daunting or fruitless. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> Ezekiel's mission underscores the importance of obedience to God's call, even when the outcome is uncertain. Our faithfulness is a testimony in itself.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 3</a> <a href="/q/does_history_show_foreigners_more_receptive.htm">In Ezekiel 3:6–7, why would God say foreign nations would be more receptive than Israel—does historical evidence support this claim? </a> <a href="/q/is_ezekiel_20_5-8's_claim_credible.htm">In Ezekiel 20:5-8, how credible is the claim that the Israelites rebelled immediately after God's promise to deliver them from Egypt, given the differing details in Exodus?</a> <a href="/q/how_reconcile_psalm_81_13-14_with_defeats.htm">In Psalm 81:13-14, how can we reconcile God's promise to subdue Israel's enemies with historical records of Israel's defeats?</a> <a href="/q/what's_biblical_prophecy's_meaning.htm">What is the meaning of Biblical prophecy?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 6. - Surely, if I sent thee to them, etc. The "surely" represents the Hebrew "if not" taken as a strong affirmation, just as "if" in <a href="/psalms/95-11.htm">Psalm 95:11</a> represents a strong negation; compare the use of the fuller formula jurandi in <a href="/1_samuel/3-17.htm">1 Samuel 3:17</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/3-35.htm">2 Samuel 3:35</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/19-13.htm">2 Samuel 19:13</a>; and of the same in <a href="/deuteronomy/1-35.htm">Deuteronomy 1:35</a>; <a href="/isaiah/62-8.htm">Isaiah 62:8</a>; and in Ezekiel himself (<a href="/ezekiel/17-19.htm">Ezekiel 17:19</a>). The margin of the Authorized Version, If I had sent thee to them, would they not have hearkened, etc.? expresses the same meaning, but is less tenable as a translation. The thought in either case finds its analogue in our Lord's reference to Sodom and Gomorrah, to Tyre and Sidon (<a href="/matthew/11-21.htm">Matthew 11:21-24</a>; <a href="/luke/10-12.htm">Luke 10:12-14</a>). Israel was more hardened than the worst of the nations round her. <a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>not לֹ֣א ׀ (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to many רַבִּ֗ים (rab·bîm) Adjective - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7227.htm">Strong's 7227: </a> Much, many, great peoples עַמִּ֣ים (‘am·mîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock of unfamiliar עִמְקֵ֤י (‘im·qê) Adjective - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6012.htm">Strong's 6012: </a> Deep, unfathomable speech שָׂפָה֙ (śā·p̄āh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8193.htm">Strong's 8193: </a> The lip, language, a margin or difficult וְכִבְדֵ֣י (wə·ḵiḇ·ḏê) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3515.htm">Strong's 3515: </a> Heavy language, לָשׁ֔וֹן (lā·šō·wn) Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> The tongue whose אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that words דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם (diḇ·rê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> A word, a matter, thing, a cause you cannot לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no understand. תִשְׁמַ֖ע (ṯiš·ma‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> To hear intelligently Surely אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not if I had sent you שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יךָ (šə·laḥ·tî·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> To send away, for, out to them, אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (’ă·lê·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to they הֵ֖מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They would have listened יִשְׁמְע֥וּ (yiš·mə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> To hear intelligently to you. אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ezekiel/3-6.htm">Ezekiel 3:6 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-6.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 3:6 Not to many peoples of a strange (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/3-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 3:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 3:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 3:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 3:7" /></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>