Ezekiel 3:11

And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Ezekiel 3:11 (KJV)

Context

Ezekiel, a priest and prophet, ministered among the Jewish exiles in Babylon during the sixth century BC. God called him to be a messenger to the Israelites in captivity, delivering divine messages to His people. This commissioning occurs within a larger passage where God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel, with the assurance that God will enable him to speak when the time comes (Ezekiel 3:27).

Meaning

God commands Ezekiel to go to the captives and proclaim His word. Although the people had been disobedient and were suffering the consequences of exile, God still cared for them and desired to communicate His will through the prophet. The phrase “them of the captivity” refers specifically to the Israelites living in Babylon. They were God’s chosen people, now experiencing the results of their unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel is presented as a mouthpiece for God. The instruction to “speak unto them” and to deliver the message exactly as God commands underscores the prophet’s duty to convey the divine message without alteration, even when the content is hard for the listeners to accept. The declaration “Thus saith the Lord GOD” affirms that Ezekiel’s words carry divine authority. The message originates from God, emphasizing His control over the destiny of His people regardless of how they respond.

The clause “whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear” acknowledges that the people may either receive the message or reject it. The outcome depends not on Ezekiel’s eloquence but on the hearers’ hearts. This highlights the prophet’s responsibility to faithfully communicate God’s words regardless of the response, leaving the result in God’s hands. The divine commission does not depend on a favorable reception; it rests on the certainty of the One who sends.

Application

This verse challenges believers to faithfully deliver God’s truth, even in hostile or discouraging circumstances. Our responsibility is obedience and proclamation; the response belongs to God. When faced with rejection, we are called to trust in God’s sovereignty and His power to work in hearts. The verse calls believers to faithful obedience in delivering God’s message, trusting God with the results, just as Ezekiel was commissioned to speak to his own people in exile.