Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 16

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 2

Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

Jerusalem is the subject of this chapter by interpretation. Note the Figure of speech Prosbpographia ( App-6 ). Not the nation as such. By application, the reader may, by grace, refer it to himself.

Verse 3

the Lord GOD. Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

birth , &c. = excisions and kinships. Compare Isaiah 61:1 . Only other occurrences, Ezekiel 21:30 ; Ezekiel 29:14 .

thy father , &c. i.e. thy founder. This refers to the first builders of Jebus; not to Abraham and his seed. Jebus was a Canaanite city. See App-68 . Thus Satan occupied in advance both land and capital as soon as the promise to Abraham was known. See App-23 and App-26 .

Verse 4

to supple = to cleanse.

salted : i.e., rubbed, or washed with salt. This is the custom in the Land to = day.

Verse 5

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

in the day. See App-18 .

Verse 6

when. This word is not in the Hebrew text.

polluted = trodden under foot. Referring to the city, of course.

when thou . . . blood , &c. Note the Figure of speech Epizeneia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Canaanite cities were founded in blood, as proved to-day by human sacrifices discovered on the foundations. See note on s Kings Eze 9:15-17 .

Verse 7

hast increased = didst increase. This does not refer to the increase in Egypt, but to the city. All the tenses in this verse should be past tenses.

fashioned = developed.

Verse 8

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

thy . . . thee : i.e. the city. Not the nation at Sinai,

thy time , &c. Of this covenant nothing has been recorded. The secret is here first revealed.

I spread My skirt , he. The symbolic act to-day, signifying the taking under one's protection. Common in the East for marrying. Compare Ruth 3:9 .

saith the Lord God [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 10

badgers' skin . Similarly so used to present day. Reference to Pentateuch Exodus 25:5 , Exodus 26:14 .Numbers 4:6 . App-92 . Occurs elsewhere, only here no reference to the tabernacle.

Verse 12

on thy forehead = in thy nose. Referring to the decorations, &c., of the city after being occupied by David.

Verse 13

fine flour, &c. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for all kinds of delicacies,

exceeding beautiful . Hebrew. me od meod. Figure of speech Epiz euxis ( App-6 ), thus well rendered.

a kingdom. Hence the expression, "Judah and Jerusalem", the latter being reckoned as a separate kingdom.

Verse 14

heathen = nations.

Verse 15

trust = confide . Hebrew. batah . App-69 .

playedst the harlot. All these expressions that follow are to be interpreted of idolatry, and not to sins of the flesh, to which they are likened.

fornications : i.e. idolatrous acts.

Verse 16

the like things. Supply the Ellipsis better thus: "thereupon: [saying] they (the curses) come not, and it (the threatened judgment) will not be. "

Verse 17

of men = of the male: i.e. the Phallus, referring to the Asherah. See App-42 .

whoredom = idolatry.

them = i.e. these images.

Verse 19

meat . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for all kinds of food.

for a sweet savour. Reference to Pentateuch. A legal phrase, found only in Ezekiel outside the Pentateuch. But in Ezekiel four times: via Ezekiel 6:13 ; Ezekiel 16:19 ; Ezekiel 20:28 , Ezekiel 20:41 . See notes on Genesis 8:21 .Leviticus 1:9 . App-92 .

thus it was = [so] it became.

Verse 20

sacrificed, &c. As offerings to idols. Compare Ezekiel 16:36 ; Ezekiel 20:26 , Ezekiel 20:31 ; Ezekiel 23:39 . 2 Kings 16:3 .Psalms 106:37 , Psalms 106:38 . Isaiah 57:5 .Jeremiah 7:31 ; Jeremiah 32:35 , &c.

whoredoms = idolatries. See notes on Ezekiel 16:15 .

Verse 21

slain My children . See note on Ezekiel 16:20 , above. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:21 ). App-92 .

children = sons.

Verse 22

abominations . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for that which Jehovah abominated,

polluted = wallowing, or weltering.

Verse 23

wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

woe, woe . Note the Figures of speech Cataplace and Epiaeuxie ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 24

eminent places = brothel house. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the idol's temple.

Verse 27

I have stretched out My hand, &c. Reference to Petit. (Exodus 7:19 , &c.) App-92 .

over = against.

ordinary food = allowance. Referring to food as measured out to captives or slaves.

will = desire. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 28

great of flesh = lustful. Referring to their idolatries.

Verse 29

unto Chaldea = Assyrian idolatry as well as Egyptian (Ezekiel 16:26 ). See the Structure, above.

Verse 30

imperious = headstrong, or without shame.

woman = wife. Compare Ezekiel 16:32 .

Verse 31

hire . See note on "reward", Ezekiel 16:34 .

Verse 32

But as = [Thou halt been].

Verse 33

give gifts = give fees.

gifts = presents.

hirest = bribest.

Verse 34

reward = hire. Used especially for the hire of fornication. Hebrew. ethnan . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18 ). App-92 . Used outside the Pentateuch only in Ezekiel 16:31 (hire), Ezekiel 16:33 , Ezekiel 16:41 .Isaiah 23:17 (hire), Isaiah 23:18 (hire). Hosea 9:1 (reward). Micah 1:7 (hire).

Verse 35

harlot = idolatress.

Verse 36

filthiness . Hebrew = brass. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 ,

for money's worth : i.e. the money of the brothel. See Ezekiel 16:31 .

idols = manufactured gods.

and by = even as.

Verse 37

gather = gather out.

Verse 38

as = with the judgments meted out to: i.e. by death (Leviticus 20:20 . 2 John 1:8; 2 John 1:82 John 1:8 :5 ). Compare Genesis 38:24 .

Verse 40

a company = a military host.

Verse 41

women : i. e idolaters, or idolatrous cities.

Verse 43

fretted Me = chafed at Me: i.e. at my laws. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "enraged Me". thou shalt not, &c.: i.e. I will not allow this greatest evil by suffering it to go unpunished, and thus conniving at it (referring to Leviticus 19:29 . App-92 .

Verse 44

proverb = derisive proverb. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 .

Verse 46

thine elder: or, thy greater.

daughters. Put by Figure of speech Prosopopoeia ( App-6 ), for villages or neighbouring towns.

younger : or, lesser.

Verse 47

as if that were . . . thing . The Ellipsis is wrongly supplied. See further note

a very little = a very little time, or quickly. See note on "almost" (Proverbs 5:14 ).

Verse 48

as thou hast done. Sodom does not mean Jerusalem here, but it refers to the Sodom of Genesis 19:0 . Sodom had not Jerusalem's privileges: hence her transgression was less. Compare Ezekiel 16:46 , and Matthew 11:20-24 .

Verse 49

was = came to be.

abundance of = luxurious: i.e. security of ease. Compare Deuteronomy 11:21 .

Verse 50

as I saw good. Some codices read "when I saw it", with margin "as thou sawest". Better to omit "good". Compare Genesis 18:21 .

as = according to what.

Verse 51

sins . Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

they : i.e. Samaria and Sodom,

Verse 52

are = will prove.

more righteous. See note on Ezekiel 16:49 .

sisters. Samaria and Sodom.

Verse 53

When I : or, When therefore I.

bring again their captivity = restorethem; referring not to any return of captives, but to a restoration of prosperity. See notes on Deuteronomy 30:3 , Job 42:10 . Psalms 126:1 .

Sodom . If the waters of the Dead Sea are to be healed, there is no reason why there should not be a restoration as here stated. Compare Ezekiel 47:8 . Zechariah 14:8 .

will I bring again . Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate read these words in the text.

Verse 57

discovered = unveiled.

as at the time of thy . Septuagint and Vulgate read "as now [thou] art". Compare Ezekiel 23:43 .

Syria . Hebrew. aram. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read " adam " = men (Daleth = D), being road for Resh = R).

Verse 58

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . Some codices, with three early printed editions, read " Adonai ". App-4 .

Verse 59

oath . . . covenant. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:12 , Deuteronomy 29:14 ). These words are thus found together here, and in Ezekiel 17:13 , Ezekiel 17:16 , Ezekiel 17:18 , Ezekiel 17:19 ; but nowhere else in Scripture.

Verse 60

everlasting covenant . See notes on Genesis 9:16 and lsa. Ezekiel 44:7 .

Verse 63

am pacified toward thee = have accepted a propitiatory covering for thee.