Ezekiel 16:27

Behold, 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.

Behold, therefore I have stretched out {H5186} my hand {H3027} over thee, and have diminished {H1639} thine ordinary {H2706} food, and delivered {H5414} thee unto the will {H5315} of them that hate {H8130} thee, the daughters {H1323} of the Philistines {H6430}, which are ashamed {H3637} of thy lewd {H2154} way {H1870}.

So now I have stretched out my hand over you, diminished your ration of food and put you at the mercy of those who hate you, the daughters of the P'lishtim, who find your lewd behavior revolting.

Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct.

Behold 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, that are ashamed of thy lewd way.

Commentary

Ezekiel 16:27 describes a severe consequence of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, portraying God's judgment against His chosen people for their spiritual harlotry and idolatry. The Lord declares that He has "stretched out my hand" in discipline, leading to a reduction of their sustenance and delivering them into the hands of their enemies, the Philistines, who paradoxically found Jerusalem's depravity shameful.

Context

This verse is part of Ezekiel chapter 16, a powerful and extended allegory where God depicts Jerusalem (and by extension, Israel) as a foundling child rescued, nurtured, and adorned by Him, only to become an unfaithful bride who prostituted herself with foreign nations and their idols. The preceding verses detail Jerusalem's escalating spiritual adultery and alliances with pagan powers. Verse 27 marks a shift to the punitive phase, outlining specific forms of divine judgment that would befall the city due to its egregious sin, moving from internal deprivation to external oppression. This judgment is part of God's response to Jerusalem's extreme spiritual unfaithfulness, which had surpassed even the wickedness of surrounding pagan nations.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Discipline: God's "stretched out hand" signifies His active intervention to bring consequences upon His people for their disobedience. This is not arbitrary punishment but a direct result of their breaking the covenant, often mirroring the covenant curses for unfaithfulness outlined in Deuteronomy. This act of judgment is also seen in other prophetic books, such as Isaiah 5:25, where God's hand is stretched out in anger.
  • Consequences of Spiritual Adultery: The "diminished thine ordinary [food]" points to famine and scarcity, a common consequence of divine disfavor, while being "delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee" refers to foreign subjugation and oppression. These judgments serve as a painful reminder of their departure from God and the natural outcome of forsaking His provision and protection.
  • Extreme Degradation and Shame: The profound irony is that even the "daughters of the Philistines," a long-standing enemy and pagan nation, are "ashamed of thy lewd way." This highlights the depth of Jerusalem's moral and spiritual corruption – so profound that it shocked even those not held to God's covenant standards. The Hebrew term for "lewd way," zimmah, denotes scandalous and depraved behavior, often associated with sexual immorality or spiritual harlotry (idolatry).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "diminished thine ordinary [food]" uses the Hebrew word choq (Χ—ΦΉΧ§), which refers to an allotted portion or statute. Here, it implies a reduction of their customary sustenance, leading to hardship and famine. The KJV's bracketed "food" clarifies the intended meaning. The term "lewd way" translates the Hebrew zimmah (Χ–Φ΄ΧžΦΈΦΌΧ”), a strong word signifying depravity, wickedness, or scandalous acts, frequently used in the Old Testament to describe sexual impropriety or, as here, the spiritual harlotry of idolatry, emphasizing the abhorrent nature of Jerusalem's actions in God's eyes.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:27 serves as a powerful reminder of the serious consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness. Just as ancient Israel faced judgment for abandoning God for idols, so too can individuals and communities today experience negative repercussions when they prioritize worldly desires, possessions, or achievements above their relationship with God. This verse underscores God's holiness and His expectation of exclusive devotion. It challenges us to examine our own lives for any "lewd ways" – any form of idolatry or spiritual compromise – and to remember that God's discipline, though painful, is ultimately intended to lead to repentance and a renewed relationship with Him, as seen in the later chapters of Ezekiel where God promises a new heart and spirit to His people, leading to restoration and a walk in His statutes.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 9:12

    The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Ezekiel 16:57

    Before 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.

  • Ezekiel 16:37

    Behold, 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.

  • Deuteronomy 28:48

    Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

  • Deuteronomy 28:57

    And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all [things] secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

  • Ezekiel 16:47

    Yet 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.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:18

    The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
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