Ezekiel16
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Again Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations;
3and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says to Jerusalem: “Your origin and your birth is of the land of the Canaanite. An Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite.
4As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut. You weren’t washed in water to cleanse you. You weren’t salted at all, nor wrapped in blankets at all.
5No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you, to have compassion on you; but you were cast out in the open field, because you were abhorred in the day that you were born.
6“‘“When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ Yes, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’
7I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent beauty. Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew; yet you were naked and bare.
8“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my garment over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord Yahweh, “and you became mine.
9“‘“Then I washed you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.
10I clothed you also with embroidered work and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
11I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck.
12I put a ring on your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
13Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.
14Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord Yahweh.
15“‘“But you trusted in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by. It was his.
16You took some of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them. This shouldn’t happen, neither shall it be.
17You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and played the prostitute with them.
18You took your embroidered garments, covered them, and set my oil and my incense before them.
19My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you even set it before them for a pleasant aroma; and so it was,” says the Lord Yahweh.
20“‘“Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter,
21that you have slain my children and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them?
22In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were wallowing in your blood.
23“‘“It has happened after all your wickedness—woe, woe to you!” says the Lord Yahweh—
24“that you have built for yourselves a vaulted place, and have made yourselves a lofty place in every street.
25You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your prostitution.
26You have also committed sexual immorality with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your prostitution, to provoke me to anger.
27See therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your portion, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way.
28You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren’t satisfied.
29You have moreover multiplied your prostitution to the land of merchants, to Chaldea; and yet you weren’t satisfied with this.
30“‘“How weak is your heart,” says the Lord Yahweh, “since you do all these things, the work of an impudent prostitute;
31in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a prostitute, in that you scorn pay.
32“‘“Adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband!
33People give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution.
34You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different.”’
35“Therefore, prostitute, hear Yahweh’s word:
36‘The Lord Yahweh says, “Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them;
37therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those whom you have loved, with all those whom you have hated. I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.
38I will judge you as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.
39I will also give you into their hand, and they will throw down your vaulted place, and break down your lofty places. They will strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels. They will leave you naked and bare.
40They will also bring up a company against you, and they will stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords.
41They will burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. I will cause you to cease from playing the prostitute, and you will also give no hire any more.
42So I will cause my wrath toward you to rest, and my jealousy will depart from you. I will be quiet, and will not be angry any more.
43“‘“Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring your way on your head,” says the Lord Yahweh: “and you shall not commit this lewdness with all your abominations.
44“‘“Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb against you, saying, ‘As is the mother, so is her daughter.’
45You are the daughter of your mother, who loathes her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite.
46Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells at your left hand, she and her daughters; and your younger sister, who dwells at your right hand, is Sodom with her daughters.
47Yet you have not walked in their ways, nor done their abominations; but soon you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.
48As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters.
49“‘“Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters. She also didn’t strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50They were arrogant and committed abomination before me. Therefore I took them away when I saw it.
51Samaria hasn’t committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all your abominations which you have done.
52You also bear your own shame yourself, in that you have given judgment for your sisters; through your sins that you have committed more abominable than they, they are more righteous than you. Yes, be also confounded, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters.
53“‘“I will reverse their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of your captives among them;
54that you may bear your own shame, and may be ashamed because of all that you have done, in that you are a comfort to them.
55Your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, will return to their former estate; and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former estate; and you and your daughters will return to your former estate.
56For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride,
57before your wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all who are around her, the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you all around.
58You have borne your lewdness and your abominations,” says Yahweh.
59“‘For the Lord Yahweh says: “I will also deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant.
60Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
61Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, your elder sisters and your younger; and I will give them to you for daughters, but not by your covenant.
62I will establish my covenant with you. Then you will know that I am Yahweh;
63that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A parable showing the first low estate of the Jewish nation, its prosperity, idolatries, and punishment. (1-63).
vv1-58
In this chapter God's dealings with the Jewish nation, and their conduct towards him, are described, and their punishment through the surrounding nations, even those they most trusted in. This is done under the parable of an exposed infant rescued from death, educated, espoused, and richly provided for, but afterwards guilty of the most abandoned conduct, and punished for it; yet at last received into favour, and ashamed of her base conduct. We are not to judge of these expressions by modern ideas, but by those of the times and places in which they were used, where many of them would not sound as they do to us. The design was to raise hatred to idolatry, and such a parable was well suited for that purpose.
vv59-63
After a full warning of judgments, mercy is remembered, mercy is reserved. These closing verses are a precious promise, in part fulfilled at the return of the penitent and reformed Jews out of Babylon, but to have fuller accomplishment in gospel times. The Divine mercy should be powerful to melt our hearts into godly sorrow for sin. Nor will God ever leave the sinner to perish, who is humbled for his sins, and comes to trust in His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ; but will keep him by his power, through faith unto salvation.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
תּוֹעֵבַה: properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
מְכוּרָה: origin (as if a mine)
Cross References
Ezekiel 16Repeats the parentage theme: 'thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel of remembering evil ways and feeling shame/loathing when God's grace is restored.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jerusalem's spiritual parentage is linked to the Amorites, whose sins were filling up.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Hosea similarly uses the metaphor of birth, nakedness, and exposure to describe Israel's early history.
Supported by JFB
Israel took God's gifts of silver, gold, and agricultural abundance and offered them to idols.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbally echoes Israel's original helpless, naked, and unswaddled state at birth.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The Mosaic law prescribing death by stoning for women committing adultery.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Direct parallel concerning Israel's failure to remember the days of her youth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Verbal and conceptual parallel: backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God promises to remember His covenant despite Israel's failures and breaches.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The famous New Covenant promise, contrasting with the broken Old Covenant ('not by thy covenant').
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Immediate context where God promises to establish an everlasting covenant despite Israel's unfaithfulness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel to 'never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame'—every mouth stopped before God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Contrasts their biological 'diggings' in Canaan with their call to look to Abraham and Sarah.
Supported by JFB
Later in this same sermon, Jerusalem is explicitly called the daughter of a Hittite mother.
Supported by JFB
Joshua notes Abraham's ancestors served other gods, grounding the 'Amorite/Hittite' pagan pedigree.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical background of Israel's infancy, where Pharaoh ordered newborn boys cast out.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Ezekiel's prose account of Israel's early state and idolatry in Egypt before God delivered them.
Supported by John Calvin
Describes the glorious bridal garments provided for the king's daughter, echoing Jerusalem's royal dressing.
Supported by JFB
Explicit historical parallel of Israel sacrificing their sons and daughters to Canaanite demons.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Directly links to the immediate context of sacrificing God's own children to idols.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels Israel's early history and covenant relationship in the 'days of thy youth'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrast of Ephraim hiring lovers with standard harlots receiving hire.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels the judgment of exposed nakedness before former lovers due to persistent whorings.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identifies the former political lovers as the direct instruments of God's severe judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identifies the elder and younger sisters when God establishes the covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Explicit sisterly representation where Samaria is named Aholah and Jerusalem Aholibah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elaborates on bearing shame and being confounded in comparison to sisters Sodom and Samaria.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The ultimate establishment of the promised 'everlasting covenant' in gospel times.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel language of remembering ways, being ashamed, and loathing self after restoration.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Depicts Ephraim being instructed, repenting, smiting his thigh, and being thoroughly ashamed.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reiterates that God's grace is not for their sakes, urging shame and confusion.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the elder and younger sisters (Samaria and Sodom) referenced in verse 61.
Supported by JFB
Ezra's prayer embodying the exact shame, confusion, and inability to lift up his face.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Job lays his hand upon his mouth in silenced humility before God's majesty.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Covenants are described in terms of a marriage relationship, of which God is witness.
Supported by JFB