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 3:26KJV
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Ezekiel 3:26 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 3:26 mean?

Ezekiel 3:26 describes God preventing Ezekiel from speaking to the people as someone who corrects them. God gives their resistance as the reason: they are “a rebellious house.”

God speaks directly to Ezekiel, picturing his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. The image makes Ezekiel’s silence vivid: the very part of his body needed for speech is held in place.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 3:26

  • “cleave” — דָּבַק (davaq): The word means to cling or stick. Here it presents silence as a physical restraint on Ezekiel’s tongue.
  • “reprover” — יָכַח (yakhaḥ): The word can mean to correct or rebuke. Ezekiel is being prevented from acting as a person who confronts the people about their conduct.
  • “rebellious” — מְרִי (meri): The word refers to rebellion or resistance. The phrase “rebellious house” describes the people as a group marked by resistance.

Why Ezekiel 3:26 matters

  • Ezekiel’s silence is presented as God’s action, not simply Ezekiel’s decision. The verse begins with God’s words, “I will make thy tongue cleave.”
  • The silence has a limit in the surrounding passage. In Ezekiel 3:27, God says that when he speaks with Ezekiel, he will open Ezekiel’s mouth and give him words for the people.
  • The people’s response remains central to the passage. Ezekiel 3:27 sets hearing and refusing to hear side by side, again calling the people “a rebellious house.”

Where else these words appear

“dumb” Hebrew H481 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
  • Psalms 39:2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
  • 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.

“mouth” Hebrew H2441 · used in 18 verses

  • Job 6:30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
  • Job 33:2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
  • Proverbs 24:13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

“rebellious” Hebrew H4805 · used in 21 verses

  • Numbers 17:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
  • Isaiah 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
  • Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

“cleave” Hebrew H1692 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
  • Judges 20:42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
  • Job 29:10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.