Bible Strands
Ezekiel 3:1
“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The divine speaker addresses Ezekiel as "son of man" and commands him to consume a scroll before delivering a message to the house of Israel. This occurs immediately after Ezekiel receives the scroll, as he opens his mouth to be fed.
The words — The verb אֱכ֑וֹל ('e.Khol) literally means "eat," commanding physical consumption of the scroll. The phrase בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-'a.Dam) translates to "son of humankind," identifying the prophet's mortal status.
The thread — The action of consuming a divine scroll reappears in Revelation 10:9, where an angel instructs John to eat a small scroll. The command to open one's mouth and eat also echoes Ezekiel 2:8, while the subsequent commission to address Israel aligns with Ezekiel 3:17.
Why it lands — The text demands internalization of the message through physical consumption before external proclamation. It requires the reader to accept divine instruction directly rather than relying on secondary interpretation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
Cross-references
- Revelation 10:9 And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
- Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
- Ezekiel 2:8 And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
- 1 Timothy 4:15 Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
- Ezekiel 3:15 I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.
- Jeremiah 24:1 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.
- Ezekiel 2:3 “Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me.
- Ezekiel 3:10 “Son of man,” He added, “listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and take them to heart.