Ezekiel 3:26

And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they [are] a rebellious house.

And I will make thy tongue {H3956} cleave {H1692} to the roof of thy mouth {H2441}, that thou shalt be dumb {H481}, and shalt not be to them a reprover {H376}{H3198}: for they are a rebellious {H4805} house {H1004}.

I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you will be mute, unable to reprove them; for they are a rebellious house.

I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house.

and I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover; for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 3:26 describes a specific divine instruction given to the prophet Ezekiel concerning his ministry to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. God declares that He will temporarily silence Ezekiel, preventing him from acting as a public "reprover" to the people, because of their persistent rebellion.

Context

This verse is situated early in the Book of Ezekiel, following the prophet's extraordinary call and commissioning. God has already appointed Ezekiel as a "watchman" over the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:17), responsible for warning the wicked and the righteous. However, in this specific passage, God imposes a period of temporary muteness upon Ezekiel, indicating a divine control over the prophet's public utterances. This silence is not a permanent disability but a strategic act by God, directly tied to the people's stubbornness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty over Prophetic Speech: God dictates when and how His message is delivered. Ezekiel's muteness underscores that his ability to speak is entirely from the Lord, and it can be withdrawn.
  • The Nature of Rebellion: The phrase "a rebellious house" is a recurring descriptor for Israel in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:5), highlighting their persistent spiritual stubbornness, disobedience, and resistance to God's will. Their rebellion is so profound that immediate reproof is temporarily suspended.
  • Silence as a Divine Act: God’s act of silencing Ezekiel is a form of judgment or a prelude to it. When warnings are consistently ignored, God may withdraw them, leaving people to face the consequences of their unheeded rebellion. This foreshadows a time when God's word might be scarce (Amos 8:11).
  • Suspension of Reproof: Ezekiel's primary role as a "reprover" (one who rebukes or warns) is temporarily halted. This might be because further immediate warnings would be futile given the people's hardened hearts, or it could be part of God's plan to allow their actions to speak for themselves before a new phase of prophetic utterance begins.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth" (Hebrew: dabaq) vividly conveys the idea of being stuck fast and unable to speak. The word "dumb" (Hebrew: 'illem) means mute or speechless. The term "reprover" (Hebrew: mokhiach) refers to one who argues, rebukes, warns, or corrects, highlighting a core function of a prophet. The description "rebellious house" (Hebrew: beth meri) strongly emphasizes Israel's consistent defiance and resistance to God's instruction.

Practical Application

Ezekiel's temporary silence reminds us that God's timing is perfect, even when it involves periods of apparent inactivity or silence. It teaches us that:

  • There are times for speaking God's truth boldly and times when God may call for silence, even from His messengers.
  • Persistent rebellion can lead to God withdrawing direct warnings, allowing individuals or communities to experience the natural consequences of their choices.
  • The importance of heeding God's word when it is spoken, as there may come a time when it is withheld.
  • Sometimes, silence itself can be a powerful message, allowing reflection and anticipation of God's next move.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 24:27

    In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Amos 8:11

    ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

  • Amos 8:12

    And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find [it].

  • Psalms 51:15

    O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

  • Luke 1:20

    And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

  • Luke 1:22

    And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

  • Psalms 137:6

    If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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