3:5–7 Although no linguistic barrier existed between Ezekiel and the nation, Israel would pay less attention to the prophet than foreigners would. Israel’s rejection of the prophet’s message was the symptom of a prior and more fundamental revolt against God’s rule (see 1 Sam. 8:7). All Israel was characterized as impudent—literally “hard-of-head”—and hard-hearted (see 2:4). Those who have had generous exposure to the truth and reject it can be harder than those who hear it for the first time.