TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 2

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1And He said to me, “O mortal, stand up on your feet that I may speak to you.”

אוַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָי בֶּן־אָדָם עֲמֹד עַל־רַגְלֶיךָ וַאֲדַבֵּר אֹתָךְ׃

2As He spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard what was being spoken to me.

בוַתָּבֹא בִי רוּחַ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלַי וַתַּעֲמִדֵנִי עַל־רַגְלָי וָאֶשְׁמַע אֵת מִדַּבֵּר אֵלָי׃

3He said to me, “O mortal, I am sending you to the people of Yisrael, that nation of rebels, who have rebelled against Me.—They as well as their fathers have defied Me to this very day;

va-YO-mer ay-LAI ben a-DAM sho-LAY-akh a-NEE o-t'-KHA el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL el go-YIM ha-mo-r'-DEEM a-SHER ma-r'-du VEE HAY-mah va-a-vo-TAM PA-sh'-u VEE ad E-tzem ha-YOM ha-ZEH

גוַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֶּן־אָדָם שׁוֹלֵחַ אֲנִי אוֹתְךָ אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־גּוֹיִם הַמּוֹרְדִים אֲשֶׁר מָרְדוּ־בִי הֵמָּה וַאֲבוֹתָם פָּשְׁעוּ בִי עַד־עֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃

 2:3   ‘O mortal, I am sending you to the people of Yisrael

Yechezkel is addressed with the term ben adam (בן אדם) ninety-three times in his book. This expression literally means ‘son of man,’ and is translated here as ‘mortal’.  This designation alludes to both his humility and mortality, but also to all of mankind’s role at God’s side in improving the world, as alluded to in Tehillim (80:18). As such, Yechezkel’s messages are intended both for Israel and for the nations. While his message is specific to Israel, the truths it contains are meant for the betterment of all mankind.

4for the sons are brazen of face and stubborn of heart. I send you to them, and you shall say to them: ‘Thus said Hashem'—

דוְהַבָּנִים קְשֵׁי פָנִים וְחִזְקֵי־לֵב אֲנִי שׁוֹלֵחַ אוֹתְךָ אֲלֵיהֶם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהֹוִה׃

5whether they listen or not, for they are a rebellious breed—that they may know that there was a Navi among them.

הוְהֵמָּה אִם־יִשְׁמְעוּ וְאִם־יֶחְדָּלוּ כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה וְיָדְעוּ כִּי נָבִיא הָיָה בְתוֹכָם׃

6“And you, mortal, do not fear them and do not fear their words, though thistles and thorns press against you, and you sit upon scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words and do not be dismayed by them, though they are a rebellious breed;

ווְאַתָּה בֶן־אָדָם אַל־תִּירָא מֵהֶם וּמִדִּבְרֵיהֶם אַל־תִּירָא כִּי סָרָבִים וְסַלּוֹנִים אוֹתָךְ וְאֶל־עַקְרַבִּים אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם אַל־תִּירָא וּמִפְּנֵיהֶם אַל־תֵּחָת כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה׃

7but speak My words to them, whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

זוְדִבַּרְתָּ אֶת־דְּבָרַי אֲלֵיהֶם אִם־יִשְׁמְעוּ וְאִם־יֶחְדָּלוּ כִּי מְרִי הֵמָּה׃

8“And you, mortal, heed what I say to you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious breed. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

חוְאַתָּה בֶן־אָדָם שְׁמַע אֵת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ אַל־תְּהִי־מֶרִי כְּבֵית הַמֶּרִי פְּצֵה פִיךָ וֶאֱכֹל אֵת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי נֹתֵן אֵלֶיךָ׃

9As I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me, holding a written scroll.

טוָאֶרְאֶה וְהִנֵּה־יָד שְׁלוּחָה אֵלָי וְהִנֵּה־בוֹ מְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר׃

10He unrolled it before me, and it was inscribed on both the front and the back; on it were written lamentations, dirges, and woes.

יוַיִּפְרֹשׂ אוֹתָהּ לְפָנַי וְהִיא כְתוּבָה פָּנִים וְאָחוֹר וְכָתוּב אֵלֶיהָ קִנִים וָהֶגֶה וָהִי׃