Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16

The big picture

Ezekiel 16 opens in verse 1 with “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 32 with “But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!”, and closes in verse 63 with “That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because…” Repeated or prominent terms include daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Ezekiel · King James Version · 63

Ezekiel 16:1-8

1–8: Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 16:1–8 opens with “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” and reaches “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by wast, blood, LORD.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” Naming Again keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was…” Naming Amorite and Canaan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open…” Naming None keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bare, breasts, caused. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

Ezekiel 16:1-8

King James Version

1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.

4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

5None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.

6And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

7I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.

8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD , and thou becamest mine.

Ezekiel 16:9-16

9–16: Washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from…

Ezekiel 16:9–16 opens with “Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed…” and reaches “And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by didst, fine, beautiful.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.” The line’s distinctive content terms include washed, anointed, blood. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bracelets, chain, decked. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou…” The line’s distinctive content terms include didst, fine, wast. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

Ezekiel 16:9-16

King James Version

9Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

10I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

11I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD .

15But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

16And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.

Ezekiel 16:17-24

17–24: Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which…

Ezekiel 16:17–24 opens with “Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and…” and reaches “That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by Lord, place, taken.

Context that brings the passage to life

This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.

“Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

Ezekiel 16:17-24

King James Version

17Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

18And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.

19My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD .

20Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,

21That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?

22And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.

23And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord GOD ;)

24That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.

Ezekiel 16:25-32

25–32: Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made…

Ezekiel 16:25–32 opens with “Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be…” and reaches “But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by place, fornication, harlot.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee…” Naming Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied…” Naming Canaan and Chaldea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Ezekiel 16:25-32

King James Version

25Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

26Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.

27Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

28Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

29Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.

30How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD , seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;

31In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

32But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

Ezekiel 16:33-40

33–40: They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy…

Ezekiel 16:33–40 opens with “They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them…” and reaches “They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by blood, lovers, nakedness.

Context that brings the passage to life

“They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gifts, givest, hirest. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD :” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gather, nakedness, discover. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Ezekiel 16:33-40

King James Version

33They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.

34And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.

35Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD :

36Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

37Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

38And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

39And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.

40They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

Ezekiel 16:41-48

41–48: They shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee…

Ezekiel 16:41–48 opens with “And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many…” and reaches “As I live, saith the Lord GOD , Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by daughters, sister, abominations.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters…” Naming Amorite and Hittite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little…” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Ezekiel 16:41-48

King James Version

41And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.

42So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

43Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD : and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.

44Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.

45Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.

46And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

47Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.

48As I live, saith the Lord GOD , Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

Ezekiel 16:49-56

49–56: Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of…

Ezekiel 16:49–56 opens with “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of…” and reaches “For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by daughters, captivity, sisters.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and…” Naming Sodom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast…” Naming Neither and Samaria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Ezekiel 16:49-56

King James Version

49Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

51Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.

52Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.

53When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

54That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.

55When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

56For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

Ezekiel 16:57-63

57–63: Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of…

Ezekiel 16:57–63 opens with “Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria…” and reaches “That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 16 develops its own movement around daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, with particular weight carried by covenant, LORD, daughters.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round…” Naming Philistines and Syria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD .” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Ezekiel 16:57-63

King James Version

57Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.

58Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD .

59For thus saith the Lord GOD ; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.

60Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

61Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

62And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD :

63That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD .

Details worth noticing

63verses in this reading
8major movements
1verses with speech
1questions in the KJV text

The opening image

Ezekiel 16:1 begins with “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”

Where the chapter turns

Ezekiel 16:32 forms a natural hinge: “But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!”

The final note

Ezekiel 16:63 leaves the reader with “That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast…”

A word trail through the chapter

The words daughters, LORD, wast, abominations, blood, whoredoms help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?

Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.

What does Ishmael's name commemorate?

God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.

KJV words made clear

behold
look, or pay close attention
unto
to
thee
you
thou
you
thy
your

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.