And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
And you, son of man, don't be scared of them or let their words get to you, even though it feels like you're surrounded by thorns and living among scorpions. Don't let their harsh words shake you or their dirty looks intimidate you, even though they're straight-up rebellious people.
God's telling you not to let toxic people's words or attitudes intimidate you, even when you're completely surrounded by them.
📚 Historical Context
Ezekiel was a prophet and priest among the exiled Israelites in Babylon around the 6th century BC, during the time when Judah had been conquered and its people were facing God's judgment for their idolatry and rebellion. In this verse, God is commissioning Ezekiel to deliver His messages to the stubborn and defiant nation of Israel, urging him to remain fearless despite the potential dangers and hostility from his audience. The imagery of briers, thorns, and scorpions symbolizes the painful and threatening environment Ezekiel would face from a rebellious people.
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