The Meaning of Ezekiel 3:9 Explained

Ezekiel 3:9

KJV: 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.

YLT: As an adamant harder than a rock I have made thy forehead; thou dost not fear them, nor art thou affrighted before them, for a rebellious house are they.'

Darby: As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead. Fear them not, neither be dismayed at them, for they are a rebellious house.

ASV: As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ezekiel 3:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 3:1-11 - A Hard Commission
The people were impudent and stiff-hearted; their words as briars and thorns; their speech like the poison of scorpions; but the prophet was commissioned to go on with his divine mission, undeterred by their opposition. Under such circumstances we must be sure of a Thus saith the Lord. But no man can stand against the continual opposition of his fellows, unless his strength is renewed, as Ezekiel's was, by eating that which God gives. Open thy mouth, and eat that which I give thee, Ezekiel 2:8. Let us specially consider the divine denunciations of sin, that our words may be sharper than any two-edged sword. Nothing makes us so strong as feeding perpetually upon the roll of the Book, and especially on the Word within the words. We must eat the flesh and drink in the life of the Son of man, if we can deal aright with the needs of the sons of men. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 3

1  Ezekiel eats the scroll
4  God encourages him
15  God shows him the rule of prophecy
22  God shuts and opens the prophet's mouth

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 3:9 mean?

Like adamant stone stronger than flint I have made your forehead Not do be afraid of them nor be dismayed at their looks though a house Rebellious they [are] -
כְּשָׁמִ֛יר חָזָ֥ק מִצֹּ֖ר נָתַ֣תִּי מִצְחֶ֑ךָ לֹֽא־ תִירָ֤א אוֹתָם֙ וְלֹא־ תֵחַ֣ת מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֛י בֵּֽית־ מְרִ֖י הֵֽמָּה פ

כְּשָׁמִ֛יר  Like  adamant  stone 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמִיר 
Sense: thorn(s), adamant, flint.
חָזָ֥ק  stronger 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָזָק  
Sense: strong, stout, mighty.
מִצֹּ֖ר  than  flint 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֹר  
Sense: flint, hard pebble.
נָתַ֣תִּי  I  have  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
מִצְחֶ֑ךָ  your  forehead 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מֵצַח  
Sense: brow, forehead.
תִירָ֤א  do  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
אוֹתָם֙  of  them 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
וְלֹא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תֵחַ֣ת  be  dismayed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָתַת  
Sense: to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid.
מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם  at  their  looks 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כִּ֛י  though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בֵּֽית־  a  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
מְרִ֖י  Rebellious 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְרִי  
Sense: rebellion.
הֵֽמָּה  they  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation