What Does Ezekiel 3:11 Mean in the King James?

And 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 GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Ezekiel 3:11 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The word is sent into exile’s exposed place whether its hearers respond or cease.

THE MEANING

You are addressed even where displacement leaves you exposed; the word reaches the captive condition itself. It is spoken whether you hear and respond or cease, so its presence does not depend on your reception.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that a message has failed simply because its hearer does not respond.

THE ROOT

גּוֹלָה

golah

GROWS FROM

גלה

g-l-h

To uncover or expose; also to go into exile.

“captivity” in this verse is golah. The word for the exiled people, golah, shares its root with galah, “to uncover” or “expose.” The address reaches people in the place of removal and exposure, directly where they are.

ALSO GROWS

galah: Uncover, expose, reveal.

גָּלָה

This root sense lets the word for exile carry an echo of exposure.

golah: Exile; the exiled community.

גּוֹלָה

This is the word naming the people to whom the message is sent.

יִשְׁמְעוּ

yishme'u

GROWS FROM

שמע

sh-m-ʿ

To hear, listen, heed, and respond.

English “hear” can sound like sound merely reaching an ear, while ⁨שמע⁩ carries the possibility of heeding and response. The verse holds responsive hearing alongside ceasing, with the message spoken into either outcome.

ALSO GROWS

shamaʿ: Hear, listen, heed, respond.

שָׁמַע

This is the verb root beneath “whether they will hear.”

shemuʿah: Report, news, tidings.

שְׁמוּעָה

The same root can name what is heard and received as a report.

יֶחְדָּלוּ

yeḥdelu

GROWS FROM

חדל

ḥ-d-l

To cease, stop, or desist.

Here “forbear” means cease or stop. The contrast is hear and respond, or cease; either way, the message is spoken.

ALSO GROWS

ḥadal: Cease, stop.

חָדַל

This is the basic verb sense behind “forbear” in the verse.

yeḥdal: He or it will cease.

יֶחְדַּל

This same root form appears in Deuteronomy 15:11, where the poor “shall never cease” from the land.

THE PATTERN

A message is delivered into a resistant place without making its arrival depend on how its hearers receive it.

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Ezekiel 2:5 · KJVThe message reaches the people whether they hear and respond or cease.

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Isaiah 6:9 · KJVThe word is spoken even where its hearers do not perceive it.

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Acts 20:27 · KJVThe whole message is declared without making its delivery depend on its reception.

THE THREAD

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Deuteronomy 6:4 · KJV

“Hear” here is ⁨שמע⁩, the same root as Ezekiel’s “whether they will hear.” The call names hearing that can answer, making Ezekiel’s alternative of ceasing visible as a real fork in response.

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