“Yahweh said to me.
‘Son of man!
All my words
That I shall speak
To you,
Receive in your heart!
Hear with your ears!
Then go to the exiles!
Go to your people!
Speak to them!
Say to them!
‘Thus says Yahweh God!’
Whether they hear
Or refuse to hear.’”
Yahweh told Ezekiel, the son of man, everything that he was to say. Ezekiel was to receive into his heart and hear with his ears all that Yahweh would tell him. Ezekiel was then to go to the exiles, his people. He was to say to them ‘Thus says Yahweh God!’ It did not matter whether they heard him or refused to hear him. He was to bring this message, pure and simple.