Ezekiel 16:4

And [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.

And as for thy nativity {H4138}, in the day {H3117} thou wast born {H3205} thy navel {H8270} was not cut {H3772}, neither wast thou washed {H7364} in water {H4325} to supple {H4935} thee; thou wast not salted {H4414} at all {H4414}, nor swaddled {H2853} at all {H2853}.

As for your birth - on the day you were born nobody cut your umbilical cord, washed you in water to clean you off, rubbed salt on you or wrapped you in cloth.

On the day of your birth your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.

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

Ezekiel 16:4 is part of a powerful and graphic allegory where God describes Jerusalem (representing the nation of Israel) as an abandoned newborn child, left to die at birth. This verse vividly portrays her initial state of utter helplessness, neglect, and lack of basic care, emphasizing that her origins were not glorious but destitute.

Context

Ezekiel chapter 16 is a profound and extended allegory, where the prophet Ezekiel conveys God's message to Jerusalem, personifying the city (and by extension, the nation of Israel) as a foundling child. This chapter vividly recounts God's benevolent act of finding, raising, and covenanting with this abandoned infant, only for her to later betray Him through spiritual idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. Verse 4 specifically paints the grim picture of Jerusalem's initial state of utter abandonment, setting the stage for the magnificent display of God's unmerited grace that follows in Ezekiel 16:6.

Key Themes

  • Profound Neglect and Abandonment: The core theme is the complete lack of care shown to the newborn. The imagery of an uncared-for infant powerfully communicates the deep spiritual destitution and lack of inherent worth in Jerusalem's origins, before God's intervention.
  • Divine Grace as the Foundation: While this verse describes abandonment, its primary purpose in the allegory is to highlight the contrast with God's subsequent act of love and salvation. It underscores that God's covenant with Israel was not based on her merit, but purely on His sovereign compassion. This resonates with the idea of God's unmerited favor shown to Israel from the beginning.
  • Human Helplessness: The vivid description of an unwashed, unsalted, unswaddled baby emphasizes the absolute vulnerability and inability of humanity to save or prepare itself without divine intervention.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

This verse lists several vital ancient Near Eastern birthing customs, the absence of which signifies extreme neglect and a death sentence for a newborn:

  • "Thy navel was not cut": The umbilical cord, essential for life support in the womb, would typically be cut and tied immediately after birth. Leaving it uncut would lead to infection and death.
  • "Neither wast thou washed in water to supple [thee]": Newborns were routinely washed to cleanse them of birth fluids and to soften their skin. The lack of this basic hygiene indicates complete disregard.
  • "Thou wast not salted at all": A common practice was to rub a newborn with salt. While its exact purpose is debated among scholars, it was believed to firm the skin, cleanse it, and perhaps act as an antiseptic or preservative. Some also connect it to the idea of a "covenant of salt," symbolizing permanence (Numbers 18:19). Its omission here further highlights the neglect.
  • "Nor swaddled at all": Swaddling involved tightly wrapping the infant in cloths to provide warmth, security, and to help limbs grow straight. The absence of swaddling left the baby exposed, vulnerable, and uncared for.

The cumulative effect of these omitted practices paints a picture of a child left to perish, underscoring the depth of Jerusalem's initial desolation and vulnerability.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:4, while a harsh depiction, profoundly magnifies the boundless grace and compassion of God. Just as Jerusalem was utterly helpless at her "birth," so too are all humanity in a state of spiritual helplessness and condemnation apart from divine intervention. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that our salvation and relationship with God are not based on our inherent merit or preparation, but solely on His loving initiative and redemptive work. It encourages us to appreciate the depth of God's love that reaches down to us in our most vulnerable state, cleanses us, and brings us into His covenant, much like He did for Jerusalem in this allegory. It calls us to reflect on our own spiritual origins and the transformative power of God's grace, which brings life and purpose out of desolation.

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.

  • Hosea 2:3

    Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

  • Genesis 15:13

    And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

  • Joshua 24:2

    And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

  • Deuteronomy 15:15

    And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

  • Exodus 5:16

    There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants [are] beaten; but the fault [is] in thine own people.

  • Exodus 5:21

    And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

  • Luke 2:7

    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

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