Ezekiel 2:3

Authorized King James Version

And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
And he said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
אֵלַ֗י
near, with or among; often in general, to
#3
בְּנֵ֣י
thee to the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#4
אָדָם֙
of man
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
#5
שׁוֹלֵ֨חַ
I send
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#6
אֲנִ֤י
i
#7
אֽוֹתְךָ֙
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#8
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#9
בְּנֵ֣י
thee to the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#10
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#11
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#12
גּוֹיִ֥ם
nation
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#13
מָרְדוּ
that hath rebelled
to rebel
#14
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#15
מָרְדוּ
that hath rebelled
to rebel
#16
בִ֑י
H0
#17
הֵ֤מָּה
they (only used when emphatic)
#18
וַאֲבוֹתָם֙
H1
against me they and their fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#19
פָּ֣שְׁעוּ
have transgressed
to break away (from just authority), i.e., trespass, apostatize, quarrel
#20
בִ֔י
H0
#21
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#22
עֶ֖צֶם
against me even unto this very
a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame
#23
הַיּ֥וֹם
day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#24
הַזֶּֽה׃
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Ezekiel. The concept of covenant community reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes covenant community in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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