Bible Strands
Ezekiel 3:9
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord speaks to Ezekiel immediately after the scroll-eating vision and before the command to listen carefully to His words. This declaration occurs during the prophet’s formal commissioning to address a rebellious house.
The words — The text employs שָׁמִיר (shamir, "diamond" or "hard stone") and חָזָק (chazak, "hard") to describe God’s promise to make Ezekiel’s forehead (מִצְחֶךָ) harder than flint (צוּר). These lexical choices emphasize an unyielding, divinely fortified resolve.
The thread — This command parallels the Lord’s repeated assurance to prophets not to fear hostile audiences, appearing in Ezekiel 2:6, Jeremiah 1:8, and Isaiah 41:10. The motif of divine strengthening against opposition runs through these passages.
Why it lands — The text commands Ezekiel to reject fear and dismay in the face of a rebellious audience because God has already fortified his resolve. A reader must recognize that prophetic endurance depends on divine preparation, not personal courage.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 2:6 But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.
- Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Isaiah 50:7 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.
- Zechariah 7:12 They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.
- Isaiah 41:14 Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
- Jeremiah 17:18 Let my persecutors be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but do not let me be terrified. Bring upon them the day of disaster and shatter them with double destruction.
- Micah 3:8 As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
- 1 Timothy 2:3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
- Jeremiah 1:17 Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.