Ezekiel 3:9 (GNV)

Passage

I haue made thy forehead as the adamant, and harder then the flint: feare them not therefore, neither be afraid at their lookes: for they are a rebellious house.

Nearby Context

Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will not obey thee: for they will not obey me: yea, all the house of Israel are impudent and stiffe hearted.

Ezekiel 3:8 Beholde, I haue made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead harde against their foreheads.

Ezekiel 3:9 I haue made thy forehead as the adamant, and harder then the flint: feare them not therefore, neither be afraid at their lookes: for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 3:10 He said moreouer vnto me, Sonne of man, receiue in thine heart al my words that I speake vnto thee, and heare them with thine eares,

Ezekiel 3:11 And goe and enter to them that are led away captiues vnto the children of thy people, and speake vnto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God: but surely they will not heare, neither will they in deede cease.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "haue", "forehead", "adamant", "harder", "flint", "feare", "therefore", and "neither". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "haue" and "forehead", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Beholde I haue made thy face strong..." into verse 10's "He said moreouer vnto me Sonne of...", so "haue" and "forehead" belong inside that flow. In Ezekiel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "haue" and "forehead" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.