And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.

And thou hast spoken My words unto them, whether they hear or whether they forbear, for they are rebellious.

And you are to give them my words, if they give ear to you or if they do not: for they are uncontrolled.

Therefore, you shall speak my words to them, so that perhaps they may hear and be quieted. For they are provoking.

Et proferes verba mea ad ipsos si audierint et si destiterint, quia rebelles sunt. [62]

Again he repeats what he had said, with but the change of a few words, yet the meaning is the same, that the Prophet should not desist in the midst of his course, if he saw that he did not obtain what he wished and hoped for. For when we apply ourselves to what God commands, we ought to be of good cheer, and expect that some fruit of our labor may appear. We may, therefore, indulge both hopes and wishes, but if it should turn out otherwise than we anticipated, yet we ought to leave the result in the hands of God, and to proceed even to the goal in the discharge of our duty. To this end this sentence tends: thou, says he, shalt utter my words, or pronounce my words, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: that is, even if you sing a song to the deaf, according to the proverb, yet you shall not cease to utter my words: and he adds the reason, because they are a rebellious house. God admonishes his servant beforehand, that there was no reason why he should turn back although he should see no fruit of his labors, because he ought to determine this in his mind, although they have no ears yet he must speak in God's name. It is certain, as we mentioned yesterday, that there were some, though few in number, to whom his teaching was useful, but he treats here of the people at large. We must learn, therefore, when God calls us to the office of teaching, not to regard the conduct of mankind. For if it please God to exercise us while we strive with the rebellious and refractory, yet God's word must be uttered, because he commands it. It follows --

Whether they will hear - Whether they receive the message, or persecute thee for it, declare it to them, that they may be without excuse.

And thou shall speak my words unto them,.... Not his own words, but those the Lord should put into his mouth. The Targum is,
"and thou shall prophesy the words of my prophecy unto them:''
whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; See Gill on Ezekiel 2:5;
for they are most rebellious; or "rebellion" (c) itself; as the carnal mind is said to be "enmity" itself against God, Romans 8:7; which aggravates their character and state.
(c) "rebellio ipsi", Montanus, Polanus, Starckius; "inobedientia sunt", Cocceius.

most rebellious--literally, "rebellion" itself: its very essence.