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Ezekiel 3:9

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 3:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee.
7But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are of hard forehead and of a stiff heart.
8Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads.
9As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
10Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear with thine ears.
11And 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 Jehovah; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
12Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, [saying], Blessed be the glory of Jehovah from his place.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead, &c.] Or, “than a rock”f62; the “adamant” has its name in Greek, because it cannot be conquered or subdued, neither by the hammer, nor by fire; the one cannot break, nor this other consume it; land it is called “shamir” in Hebrew, from its preserving itself from both; it will cut iron in pieces, which is harder than stone, and therefore must be harder than that. Bochart takes it to be the same with “smiris”, a hard stone, which jewellers use to polish their gems with; (see <241701>Jeremiah 17:1 <380712>Zechariah 7:12). The design of the simile is to set forth the courage and fortitude of mind the prophet was endowed with, in order to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As . . . flint--so Messiah the antitype (Isa 50:7; compare Jer 1:8, Jer 1:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Adamant - Or, diamond Jeremiah 17:1, which was employed to cut flint. Ezekiel’s firmness being that of a diamond, he should cut a stroke home to the hardened hearts of a rebellious people. For “though” read “for.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“adamant: Zac 7:12 fear: Eze 2:6; Isa 41:10, Isa 41:14, Isa 50:7; Jer 1:8, Jer 1:17, Jer 17:18; Mic 3:8; Ti1 2:3; Ti2 2:6 Ezekiel 3:10”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 3 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification