2:6Meaning
A command to stop speaking and a warning about disgrace The verse opens by reporting a slogan-like demand: “Don’t you prophesy.” The repetition suggests competing voices—some speaking for God, others trying to shut that down. The line then turns to a consequence: they “shall not prophesy to these,” and “reproaches” (public shame/insults) will not depart. The sense is that silencing the message will not remove the uncomfortable exposure; the disgrace will continue.
Unit 2 (v. 7a): Addressing the “house of Jacob” and questioning their assumptions about God
The speaker calls out “O house of Jacob,” treating the community as responsible for how it responds. Two questions follow: Is Yahweh’s Spirit “straitened” (restricted, unable to act freely)? And are the things happening really God’s actions in the way they imply? The questions push back on the idea that God is either cramped into always saying pleasant things or that God’s ways can be dismissed as unfair.
Unit 3 (v. 7b): Restating the standard—God’s words help the upright walker
The final line appeals to experience and principle: God’s “words do good” to the one who “walks blamelessly.” The logic is not “no one will be challenged,” but “God’s speech is beneficial when met with an upright path.” The passage ties the value of the message to the character and direction of the hearer’s life, rather than to the hearer’s demand for silence.