And {a} he said to me, {b} Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee.

(a) That is, the Lord.

(b) Meaning, man who is but earth and ashes, which was to humble him, and cause him to consider his own state, and God's grace.

Wesley's Notes

2:1 And - He that sat upon the throne, Jesus Christ. Son of man - A phrase which is ninety - five times, at least, used in this prophecy to keep him humble who had such great revelations. Stand - Arise, fear not. And with this command God sent forth a power enabling him to rise and stand.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] Son of man

"Son of man," used by our Lord of Himself seventy-nine times, is used by Jehovah ninety one times when addressing Ezekiel.

(1) In the case of our Lord the meaning is clear: it is His racial name as the representative Man in the sense of 1Cor 15:45-47. The same thought, implying transcendence of mere Judaism, is involved in the phrase when applied to Ezekiel. Israel had forgotten her mission. See Scofield Note: "Gen 11:10" Ezek 5:5-8. Now, in her captivity, Jehovah will not forsake His people, but He will remind them that they are but a small part of the race for whom He also cares. Hence the emphasis upon the word "man." The Cherubim "had the likeness of a man" Ezek 1:5 and when the prophet beheld the throne of God, he saw "the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it" Ezek 1:26. See Scofield Note: "Mt 8:20" Rev 1:12,13.

(2) As used of Ezekiel, the expression indicates, not what the prophet is in himself, but what he is to God; a son of man

(a) chosen,

(b) endued with the Spirit, and

(c) sent of God.

All this is true also of Christ who was, furthermore, the representative man--the head of regenerate humanity.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 2

Eze 2:1-10. Ezekiel's Commission.

1. Son of man-often applied to Ezekiel; once only to Daniel (Da 8:17), and not to any other prophet. The phrase was no doubt taken from Chaldean usage during the sojourn of Daniel and Ezekiel in Chaldea. But the spirit who sanctioned the words of the prophet implied by it the lowliness and frailty of the prophet as man "lower than the angels," though now admitted to the vision of angels and of God Himself, "lest he should be exalted through the abundance of the revelations" (2Co 12:7). He is appropriately so called as being type of the divine "Son of man" here revealed as "man" (see on [1018]Eze 1:26). That title, as applied to Messiah, implies at once His lowliness and His exaltation, in His manifestations as the Representative man, at His first and second comings respectively (Ps 8:4-8; Mt 16:13; 20:18; and on the other hand, Da 7:13, 14; Mt 26:64; Joh 5:27).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:1-5 Lest Ezekiel should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, he is put in mind that still he is a son of man, a weak, mortal creature. As Christ usually called himself the Son of man, it was also an honourable distinction. Ezekiel's posture showed reverence, but his standing up would be a posture of greater readiness and fitness for business. God will speak to us, when we stand ready to do what he commands us. As Ezekiel had not strength of his own, the Spirit entered into him. God is graciously pleased to work in us whatever he requires of us. The Holy Spirit sets us upon our feet, by inclining our wills to our duty. Thus, when the Lord calls upon the sinner to awake, and attend to the concerns of his soul, the Spirit of life and grace comes with the call. Ezekiel is sent with a message to the children of Israel. Many might treat his message with contempt, yet they should know by the event that a prophet had been sent to them. God will be glorified, and his word made honourable, whether it be a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.