Ezekiel 16:3

KJV

And 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And say {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} unto Jerusalem {H3389}; Thy birth {H4351} and thy nativity {H4138} is of the land {H776} of Canaan {H3669}; thy father {H1} was an Amorite {H567}, and thy mother {H517} an Hittite {H2850}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Say that Adonai ELOHIM is telling Yerushalayim, 'By origin and birth you are of the land of the Kena'ani - your father was an Emori, and your mother was a Hitti.

Berean Standard Bible

and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

American Standard Version

and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto Jerusalem: Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was a Hittite.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 16:3 initiates a profound and extended allegory in which the prophet, speaking for the Lord GOD, confronts Jerusalem directly, personifying the city as a foundling child with deeply pagan origins. This verse immediately establishes the city's spiritual heritage not as pure Israelite, but as rooted in the idolatrous and immoral practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations, specifically identifying its "father" as an Amorite and its "mother" as a Hittite. This stark declaration sets the stage for the chapter's scathing indictment of Jerusalem's profound unfaithfulness and spiritual adultery, highlighting that its very existence and subsequent blessings were solely due to God's unmerited grace, rather than any inherent worth or pure lineage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 16 is a remarkable and graphic allegory, arguably one of the most vivid in the prophetic literature. Following chapters 1-11, which detail God's glory departing the temple and Jerusalem's impending judgment, and chapters 12-15, which deliver various pronouncements of doom, chapter 16 shifts to a deeply personal and historical indictment. The Lord GOD addresses Jerusalem as a female child, abandoned and defiled at birth, whom He lovingly rescued, nourished, adorned, and married. Verse 3 serves as the foundational premise for this entire narrative, establishing Jerusalem's ignoble, pagan origins to underscore the magnitude of God's unmerited favor and, consequently, the heinousness of the city's subsequent betrayal. It sets up the dramatic contrast between God's lavish grace and Jerusalem's profound spiritual harlotry, which unfolds in graphic detail throughout the rest of the chapter, culminating in her judgment and eventual restoration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical context for Ezekiel's prophecy is the Babylonian exile, specifically around 593-571 BC. Jerusalem, though not yet fully destroyed, was under Babylonian dominion, and many of its inhabitants, including Ezekiel, had already been deported. The "land of Canaan" refers to the geographical region into which Israel migrated, a land populated by various indigenous groups. The Amorites and Hittites were prominent Canaanite tribes, known for their polytheistic religions, fertility cults, and often abhorrent practices, including child sacrifice. These groups represented the very antithesis of Yahweh worship and the Mosaic Law. By attributing Jerusalem's "parentage" to these specific tribes, God is not suggesting a literal ethnic lineage for the Jewish people, but rather a spiritual and moral one. It powerfully conveys that Jerusalem, the supposed holy city, had fully absorbed the idolatry and immorality of the surrounding pagan cultures, becoming indistinguishable from them in its spiritual corruption, a stark contrast to God's original command for Israel to remain separate from the nations of Canaan, as outlined in [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1-6 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - God's Choice of Israel and Warnings Against Idolatry").
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several crucial themes that permeate Ezekiel 16 and the broader prophetic message. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Grace versus Human Unfaithfulness**. Jerusalem had no inherent claim to God's favor; its spiritual roots were in paganism, emphasizing that its chosen status was solely due to God's unmerited grace, not its own worth or pure lineage. This sets up the stark contrast with its later profound unfaithfulness. Secondly, it addresses **Spiritual Identity and Origins**. God challenges Jerusalem's self-perception, reminding it of its true spiritual beginnings. The "Amorite" and "Hittite" represent the dominant pagan cultures of Canaan, known for their abominable practices. This imagery powerfully conveys that Jerusalem, despite being God's holy city, had fully assimilated the spiritual corruption of the surrounding nations, becoming indistinguishable from them in its idolatry, a theme elaborated upon in [Ezekiel 16:32](/ezekiel/16-32 "Ezekiel 16:32 - Jerusalem's Spiritual Harlotry"). Thirdly, it underscores the pervasive issue of **Idolatry and Moral Corruption**. By linking Jerusalem's "parents" to these specific Canaanite groups, the verse implicitly condemns the city's adoption of their idolatrous worship and immoral customs, which were explicitly forbidden by God to Israel, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 12:29-31](/deuteronomy/12-29-31 "Deuteronomy 12:29-31 - Warnings Against Canaanite Practices").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **birth (Hebrew, _mᵉkûwrâh'_):** From H4351, a word suggesting "origin" or "source," as if from a mine. This term emphasizes the deep-seated foundation or intrinsic beginning of Jerusalem's spiritual identity. It points to something fundamental to its "birth" or "habitation" in the land, reflecting its inherent pagan roots.
* **nativity (Hebrew, _môwledeth'_):** From H4138, derived from the verb "to beget" or "to bear." This term specifically refers to one's birthplace, lineage, or family origin. Its pairing with `mᵉkûwrâh` creates a powerful rhetorical emphasis on Jerusalem's complete and undeniable connection to its pagan roots, highlighting both its geographical and ancestral ties to Canaanite practices.
* **Amorite (Hebrew, _ʼĔmôrîy'_):** From H567, a patronymic term referring to a descendant of the Amorites, one of the prominent Canaanite tribes. The name possibly means "mountaineer" or "prominent." Historically, the Amorites were known for their strength and widespread presence in Canaan before the Israelite conquest. Theologically, they represent the epitome of pagan idolatry and moral depravity against which Israel was repeatedly warned, as seen in [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites"). Attributing Jerusalem's father to an Amorite powerfully symbolizes its deep assimilation of the very evils God commanded Israel to eradicate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem;":** This opening establishes the divine authority of the message. The phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD" (Hebrew: `ʼĂdônây Yᵉhôvih`, H136 H3069) is a powerful prophetic formula, emphasizing that the words are not Ezekiel's own but a direct revelation from the sovereign God of Israel. The direct address "unto Jerusalem" (H3389) personifies the city, setting the stage for the extended allegory of the chapter, treating it as a moral agent capable of hearing and responding to divine indictment.
* **"Thy birth and thy nativity [is] of the land of Canaan;":** This clause immediately confronts Jerusalem's presumed holy identity by asserting its deep-seated origins in the pagan land of Canaan (H776 H3669). The repetition of "birth" (`mᵉkûwrâh`, H4351) and "nativity" (`môwledeth`, H4138) forcefully underscores that Jerusalem's spiritual "DNA" was fundamentally intertwined with the idolatry and immorality prevalent in the region before God's intervention. It implies a spiritual, not necessarily ethnic, heritage, highlighting its default state of corruption apart from divine grace.
* **"thy father [was] an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.":** This graphic imagery further specifies Jerusalem's pagan heritage. The Amorites (H567) and Hittites (H2850) were prominent, powerful, and notoriously idolatrous Canaanite tribes. By assigning them as Jerusalem's "parents" (H1, H517), God vividly portrays the city's spiritual assimilation of their abominable practices, highlighting its deep-seated corruption and its departure from the covenant purity expected of God's chosen people. This is a metaphorical statement about Jerusalem's spiritual identity and practices, not a literal genealogical claim, underscoring the extent of its spiritual harlotry.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 16:3 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its scathing indictment. The most prominent is **Personification**, where Jerusalem is addressed directly as a female child, setting up the extended **Allegory** that unfolds throughout the entire chapter. This allows God to narrate Jerusalem's history as a personal drama of rescue, covenant, and profound betrayal. The description of Jerusalem's "father" as an Amorite and "mother" as a Hittite is a potent **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**. These specific Canaanite tribes symbolize the deep-seated paganism, idolatry, and moral corruption that characterized the land from which Jerusalem arose and which it later embraced. This metaphorical parentage is a form of **Hyperbole**, exaggerating Jerusalem's pagan origins to emphasize the depth of its spiritual assimilation and the stark contrast with God's gracious election. The repetition of "birth" and "nativity" also serves as a form of **Emphasis**, underscoring the undeniable and intrinsic connection Jerusalem had to the land's pagan practices.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 16:3 serves as a stark theological declaration, reminding Jerusalem, and by extension, Israel, of their true spiritual origins and the profound nature of God's unmerited grace. The verse challenges any notion of inherent righteousness or claim to divine favor based on lineage, firmly establishing that Jerusalem's very existence as God's city was an act of sovereign election and redemptive love, rescuing it from a state of utter spiritual depravity. This sets the theological stage for understanding Jerusalem's subsequent unfaithfulness not merely as disobedience, but as a heinous act of spiritual adultery against a God who had lavished immeasurable grace upon a people who, by their "birth," were no different from the pagan nations around them. This foundational truth underscores the theme of God's unilateral covenant love in the face of human depravity.

* [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7-8 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Unmerited Choice of Israel")
* [Psalm 106:34-39](/psalm/106-34-39 "Psalm 106:34-39 - Israel's Assimilation of Pagan Practices")
* [Romans 9:10-13](/romans/9-10-13 "Romans 9:10-13 - God's Sovereign Election")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 16:3 offers profound insights for believers today, serving as a powerful reminder of our own spiritual origins and the magnitude of God's grace. Just as Jerusalem had no inherent claim to God's favor, but was "born" into a state of spiritual corruption, so too humanity is born into sin, separated from God and steeped in the ways of the world. This verse compels us to remember that any spiritual standing, salvation, or blessing we possess is purely by God's unmerited grace, not by our own merit, background, or good works. It fosters humility and gratitude, prompting us to continually acknowledge that "it is by grace you have been saved" ([Ephesians 2:8](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")). Furthermore, the warning implicit in Jerusalem's assimilation of pagan practices serves as a potent caution against spiritual compromise in our own lives. We are called to be in the world but not of the world, vigilant against adopting values, practices, or ideologies that contradict God's truth. This verse challenges us to examine our own "spiritual DNA" and ensure that our identity is rooted firmly in Christ, not in the prevailing culture.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like ancient Jerusalem, be tempted to forget my spiritual origins and take God's grace for granted?**
* **What "Amorite" or "Hittite" influences (worldly values, cultural norms, sinful habits) might I unknowingly be assimilating into my spiritual life today?**
* **How does remembering that my salvation is purely by God's grace impact my humility, gratitude, and motivation for holy living?**

### FAQ
**Was Jerusalem literally founded by Amorites and Hittites?**

Answer: No, Ezekiel 16:3 is not a literal historical or ethnic statement about the founding of Jerusalem or the lineage of the Jewish people. The Jewish people traced their ancestry back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, this verse uses powerful **allegory** and **metaphor** to convey a spiritual truth. By declaring Jerusalem's "father" an Amorite and "mother" a Hittite, God is highlighting the city's deep spiritual and moral corruption, indicating that it had fully assimilated the idolatrous and immoral practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations from which God had called Israel to be separate. It emphasizes that Jerusalem's spiritual "DNA" was, by default, pagan, and its existence as God's city was solely due to His unmerited grace and transformative power.

**Why does God use such harsh language to describe Jerusalem?**

Answer: God uses such graphic and unflinching language in Ezekiel 16, including verse 3, to convey the profound depth of Jerusalem's spiritual unfaithfulness and the heinousness of its sin. The allegory of a foundling child rescued and adorned by God, only to become a harlot, is designed to shock and expose the severity of their spiritual adultery. This harshness is not gratuitous; it reflects the intensity of God's grief over their betrayal and the seriousness of breaking covenant with Him. It underscores that despite God's immense grace and blessings, Jerusalem had chosen to become indistinguishable from the very pagan nations whose practices God abhorred. The language serves to emphasize the gravity of their rebellion and to justify the impending judgment, while also setting the stage for the eventual hope of restoration rooted in God's steadfast love, as seen later in [Ezekiel 16:60-63](/ezekiel/16-60-63 "Ezekiel 16:60-63 - God's Everlasting Covenant").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 16:3, with its stark portrayal of Jerusalem's pagan origins and spiritual depravity, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the universal human condition. Just as Jerusalem was "born" into a land of Canaanite idolatry, so too all humanity is born into a world steeped in sin, alienated from God by nature and choice, as described in [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned") and [Ephesians 2:1-3](/ephesians/2-1-3 "Ephesians 2:1-3 - Dead in Sins"). We, like Jerusalem, have no inherent righteousness or claim to God's favor. Secondly, the verse highlights the absolute necessity and glory of God's sovereign grace. What God did for Jerusalem—rescuing, cleansing, and adorning her—He supremely does for humanity through Jesus Christ. Christ is the ultimate expression of God's unmerited love, taking us from our "birth" in sin and making us new creations, adopted into His family ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). He is the true Israel, perfectly obedient where Jerusalem failed, fulfilling the covenant promises. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ cleanses us from our "Amorite" and "Hittite" spiritual heritage of sin and idolatry, transforming us into His own pure bride ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). Thus, Ezekiel 16:3 ultimately points to the radical, transformative power of the Gospel, where God's grace in Christ overcomes our deepest spiritual depravity, offering new birth and a pure identity in Him ([John 3:3](/john/3-3 "John 3:3 - You Must Be Born Again")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 16:45

Thou [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.

Isaiah 51:1

¶ Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged.

Isaiah 51:2

Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

Deuteronomy 20:17

But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

Nehemiah 9:7

Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

John 8:44

Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Ezekiel 21:30

Shall I cause [it] to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.