Ezekiel 2:1
"Son of man," He said to me, "stand up on your feet and I will speak to you."
“Son of man,”

God addresses Ezekiel as a mortal man before the overwhelming glory he has seen. The title appears more than ninety times in Ezekiel and continually reminds the prophet that he is human, dependent, and called to serve the sovereign Lord. Ezekiel stands in sharp contrast to the divine glory revealed by the Chebar Canal. Jesus also called Himself the Son of Man, identifying with humanity while fulfilling Daniel’s vision of the heavenly ruler who receives everlasting dominion.

Ezk 3:1 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here.”…
Dan 8:17 As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified…

He said to me,

The God whose glory Ezekiel beheld now speaks personally to him. Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry begins with divine revelation, not personal ambition or human insight. The Lord establishes His servant’s authority by giving him His own word.

Jer 1:7 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’…
Jer 1:9 Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth……

“stand up on your feet

Ezekiel had fallen facedown before the appearance of God’s glory. God calls him to rise, not because the vision was ordinary, but because he is being commissioned for active obedience. A prophet must humbly fear the Lord while standing ready to deliver His message.

Ezk 3:24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet.…
Dan 10:11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious…

and I will speak to you.”

The Lord promises to instruct Ezekiel for the difficult ministry ahead among Israel’s rebellious people. God does not send His servants without His word, and Ezekiel’s message will carry divine authority because it comes from the One who speaks.

Ezk 3:27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth…
Num 12:8 I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites.

2. God
The speaker in this verse, who is commissioning Ezekiel for his prophetic mission.

3. Babylonian Exile
The historical context in which Ezekiel receives his calling, a time when the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon.
Teaching Points
Divine Calling and Readiness
God calls Ezekiel to stand, symbolizing readiness and respect. We must be prepared to respond to God's call in our lives, standing ready to listen and act.

Identity and Humility
The term "son of man" emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and humility before God. Recognizing our human limitations can help us rely more on God's strength and wisdom.

Obedience to God's Voice
Ezekiel's response to God's command is immediate. Our obedience to God's instructions should be prompt and willing, trusting in His purpose for us.

Empowerment by the Spirit
Although not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the context shows that God's Spirit empowers Ezekiel. We, too, need the Holy Spirit to equip us for the tasks God sets before us.

Standing Firm in Faith
Standing up signifies strength and resolve. In our spiritual journey, we must stand firm in our faith, ready to face challenges with God's guidance.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the title "son of man" reveal about Ezekiel's role and identity, and how can this understanding influence our view of our own identity in Christ?

2. How does the act of standing up before God symbolize readiness and respect, and how can we apply this posture in our daily spiritual practices?

3. In what ways can we ensure that we are attentive and responsive to God's voice in our lives, similar to Ezekiel's immediate response?

4. How does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit play a role in fulfilling God's calling, and what steps can we take to seek this empowerment in our own lives?

5. Reflect on a time when you had to stand firm in your faith. How did God's guidance help you, and how can this experience encourage you in future challenges?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Daniel 10:11
Similar to Ezekiel, Daniel is addressed as "man greatly beloved" and is told to stand up, indicating a divine encounter and commissioning.

Acts 9:6
Saul (Paul) is instructed to rise and go into the city, where he will be told what to do, paralleling the call to action and readiness to receive God's word.

Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah's commissioning, where he responds to God's call, "Here am I. Send me!" This reflects the readiness and obedience expected of God's messengers.
Son of ManJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 2:1
Human Progress a Preparation for the Fuller Knowledge of GodJ. S. Lidgett, M. A.Ezekiel 2:1-2
Optimism and Pessimism; Or, the True Dignity of ManS. Macnaughton, M. A.Ezekiel 2:1-2
Self-PossessionT. G. Selby.Ezekiel 2:1-2
Standing Before GodR. D. Shaw, B. D.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Assertion of ManhoodJ. Millar, B. D.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Full Stature of a ManW. W. Battershall, D. D.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Importance of Self-RespectS. A. Tipple.Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Interlacing of Divine Command and Divine StrengthJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 2:1, 2
The Prophet's CommissionJ. C. Shanks.Ezekiel 2:1-2
People
Ezekiel, Israelites
Places
Chebar
Topics
Appearance, Face, Fall, Honour, Likeness, Speak, Speaking, Stand, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 2:1

     2221   Christ, Son of Man
     2233   Son of Man

Ezekiel 2:1-7

     7758   preachers, call

Library
Endurance of the World's Censure.
"And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them; neither be afraid of their words, though briars 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."--Ezekiel ii. 6. What is here implied, as the trial of the Prophet Ezekiel, was fulfilled more or less in the case of all the Prophets. They were not Teachers merely, but Confessors. They came not merely to unfold the Law, or to foretell the Gospel,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Epistle xxxvi. To Maximus, Bishop of Salona .
To Maximus, Bishop of Salona [113] . Gregory to Maximus, &c. When our common son the presbyter Veteranus came to the Roman city, he found me so weak from the pains of gout as to be quite unable to answer thy Fraternity's letters myself. And indeed with regard to the nation of the Sclaves [114] , from which you are in great danger, I am exceedingly afflicted and disturbed. I am afflicted as suffering already in your suffering: I am disturbed, because they have already begun to enter Italy by way
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Epistle Xlv. To Theoctista, Patrician .
To Theoctista, Patrician [153] . Gregory to Theoctista, &c. We ought to give great thanks to Almighty God, that our most pious and most benignant Emperors have near them kinsfolk of their race, whose life and conversation is such as to give us all great joy. Hence too we should continually pray for these our lords, that their life, with that of all who belong to them, may by the protection of heavenly grace be preserved through long and tranquil times. I have to inform you, however, that I have
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

St. Malachy Becomes Bishop of Connor; He Builds the Monastery of iveragh.
16. (10). At that time an episcopal see was vacant,[321] and had long been vacant, because Malachy would not assent: for they had elected him to it.[322] But they persisted, and at length he yielded when their entreaties were enforced by the command of his teacher,[323] together with that of the metropolitan.[324] It was when he was just entering the thirtieth year of his age,[325] that he was consecrated bishop and brought to Connor; for that was the name of the city through ignorance of Irish ecclesiastical
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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