Ezekiel 3:6

Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not vnderstand: surely had I sent thee to them, they would haue hearkened vnto thee: Ezekiel 3:6 (KJV)

Ezekiel 3:6, as rendered in the King James Version, does not contain any reference to foreign peoples, strange speech, or language barriers. The verse’s true focus is on the response of the house of Israel to the prophetic message. It emphasizes that the Israelites’ reaction will serve as a sign of the Lord’s sovereignty. The passage reminds the prophet—and readers—that the way Israel receives divine proclamation will function as testimony to God’s authority.

Later in the book of Ezekiel, the prophet is explicitly appointed as a watchman over the house of Israel (see Ezekiel 33:7). In that role he is charged with warning the people regardless of whether they heed the warning. This watchman duty, however, belongs to a different section and is not part of the immediate context of Ezekiel 3:6.

A related promise is found in the words, “And when thou hast fulfilled them, cause the house of Israel to hear it, that they may put them upon their hearts, and that thou mayest put them upon my holy people.” This underscores the purpose of the prophetic message: that Israel may internalize God’s commands and apply them to the holy people.

Another complementary verse states, “And when the house of Israel shall hear all these words which I shall speak unto them, and shall turn away from me, they shall be a sign unto you, that I am the LORD.” Together these passages highlight that the Israelites’ hearing and response are the decisive factor in confirming God’s presence and power, rather than any comparison with foreign nations.

Thus, Ezekiel 3:6 calls the prophet to deliver God’s words to his own people, trusting that their response—whether faithful or not—will stand as a testimony to the Lord’s greatness.