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.
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֕ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֕ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 22
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
בְּת֥וֹךְ
in the midst
H8432
בְּת֥וֹךְ
in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
3 of 22
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
בֵּ֥ית
house
H1004
בֵּ֥ית
house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 22
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
מְרִ֖י
not for they are a rebellious
H4805
מְרִ֖י
not for they are a rebellious
Strong's:
H4805
Word #:
5 of 22
bitterness, i.e., (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious
יֹשֵׁ֑ב
thou dwellest
H3427
יֹשֵׁ֑ב
thou dwellest
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עֵינַיִם֩
which have eyes
H5869
עֵינַיִם֩
which have eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
9 of 22
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
רָא֗וּ
and see
H7200
רָא֗וּ
and see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
11 of 22
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
רָא֗וּ
and see
H7200
רָא֗וּ
and see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
13 of 22
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אָזְנַ֨יִם
not they have ears
H241
אָזְנַ֨יִם
not they have ears
Strong's:
H241
Word #:
14 of 22
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
שָׁמֵ֔עוּ
and hear
H8085
שָׁמֵ֔עוּ
and hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
16 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
17 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמֵ֔עוּ
and hear
H8085
שָׁמֵ֔עוּ
and hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
18 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
כִּ֛י
H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
19 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בֵּ֥ית
house
H1004
בֵּ֥ית
house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
20 of 22
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Jeremiah 5:21Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:Mark 4:12That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.Psalms 78:40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!Isaiah 1:23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.Ephesians 4:18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:Isaiah 30:9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:Isaiah 65:2I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;Isaiah 30:1Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:Jeremiah 5:23But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.John 12:40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Historical Context
The exiles refused to acknowledge their true condition—rebellious covenant violators justly punished. Instead, they blamed circumstances, previous generations, or false gods' power. This self-deception required dramatic prophetic actions to penetrate hardened hearts. Ezekiel's sign-acts created visual, unavoidable proclamation that words alone couldn't accomplish. The designation 'rebellious house' indicted the entire community, not just individuals, showing corporate responsibility for covenant faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does willful spiritual blindness differ from intellectual inability to understand?
- What does the 'rebellious house' designation teach about corporate responsibility for sin?
- In what ways can religious people today have 'eyes that see not' and 'ears that hear not'?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"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." God diagnoses Israel's problem—willful blindness and deafness. They possess physical faculties ("eyes to see," "ears to hear") but lack spiritual perception. The double designation "rebellious house" (beit meri, בֵּית מֶרִי) emphasizes covenant violation as defining characteristic. This echoes Isaiah's commission (Isaiah 6:9-10) and anticipates Jesus' diagnosis of hardened hearts (Matthew 13:13-15). Rebellion produces functional blindness—sin darkens understanding.