Ezekiel 16:10

I 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.

I clothed {H3847} thee also with broidered work {H7553}, and shod {H5274} thee with badgers' skin {H8476}, and I girded {H2280} thee about with fine linen {H8336}, and I covered {H3680} thee with silk {H4897}.

I also clothed you with an embroidered gown, gave you fine leather sandals to wear, put a fine linen headband on your head and covered you with silk.

I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk.

Context of Ezekiel 16:10

Ezekiel chapter 16 is a vivid and dramatic allegory, portraying Jerusalem (representing Israel) as an abandoned infant, discovered and nurtured by God. This particular verse, Ezekiel 16:10, describes the lavish provisions and adornments God bestowed upon her, symbolizing the immense blessings, dignity, and glory He granted to His chosen people. It's part of a larger narrative detailing God's immense grace and Israel's subsequent unfaithfulness, acting as a harlot despite God's lavish gifts. The preceding verses describe God finding her in a desolate state (Ezekiel 16:6) and then entering into a covenant with her, preparing her for a place of honor.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Provision and Abundance: The verse vividly illustrates God's incredible generosity. He didn't just save Jerusalem; He adorned her with the finest garments, elevating her status from destitution to royalty. This highlights God's abundant grace and His desire to bless His people beyond mere survival.
  • Beauty and Dignity: The specific items of clothing and footwear mentioned—broidered work, badgers' skin shoes, fine linen, and silk—were symbols of wealth, beauty, and high status in ancient times. God clothed Jerusalem with splendor, making her beautiful and respected among the nations.
  • Covenant Blessings: These luxurious gifts symbolize the blessings that flowed from God's covenant relationship with Israel, positioning her as His special treasure and a kingdom of priests.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Broidered work": The Hebrew term refers to richly embroidered garments, indicating intricate craftsmanship and extreme luxury. This was a sign of wealth and high social standing.
  • "Badgers' skin": The Hebrew word, tachash, is debated but often refers to a fine, durable leather, possibly from dugongs, seals, or a specially dyed hide. This material was also notably used for the outer covering of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:14), signifying both durability and sacredness. Here, it denotes valuable and resilient footwear.
  • "Fine linen": Shesh in Hebrew, often associated with priestly garments and royalty, symbolizing purity, wealth, and high status. It was a highly prized fabric.
  • "Silk": The Hebrew word, meshi, is understood to refer to a luxurious and expensive fabric, further emphasizing the opulence and high value of God's provision.

Practical Application and Reflection

Ezekiel 16:10 serves as a powerful reminder of God's boundless grace and the depth of His love for His people. It underscores several profound truths:

  • God's Initiative in Blessing: This passage highlights that God takes the initiative in blessing and elevating His people. His gifts are not earned but flow from His own lovingkindness and covenant faithfulness.
  • Spiritual Adornment: Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for God clothing believers with righteousness and the spiritual blessings found in Christ, transforming their spiritual nakedness into garments of salvation and praise (compare Isaiah 61:10).
  • A Warning Against Pride: The broader context of Ezekiel 16 reveals that despite such lavish blessings, Jerusalem became proud and unfaithful, misusing God's gifts for idolatry. This serves as a sober warning against taking God's grace for granted or using His blessings for selfish or unholy purposes. It calls us to remember the true source of all good things and to live in gratitude and faithfulness.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 16:13

    Thus 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.

  • Ezekiel 16:18

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

  • Isaiah 61:10

    ¶ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.

  • Exodus 26:36

    And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

  • Ezekiel 27:16

    Syria [was] thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.

  • Genesis 41:42

    And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

  • Psalms 45:13

    The king's daughter [is] all glorious within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold.

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