Ezekiel 16:48

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

As I live {H2416}, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, Sodom {H5467} thy sister {H269} hath not done {H6213}, she nor her daughters {H1323}, as thou hast done {H6213}, thou and thy daughters {H1323}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'As I live' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'your sister S'dom has not done, neither she nor her daughters, [as much evil] as you have done, you and your daughters.

Berean Standard Bible

As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 16:48 delivers a profoundly shocking divine declaration, asserting that Jerusalem's spiritual depravity and covenant unfaithfulness surpassed even the notorious wickedness of Sodom. Through a solemn oath, the Lord God reveals that the sins committed by His chosen people, despite their unique privileges and intimate relationship with Him, were more egregious and offensive than those of a city synonymous with ultimate moral corruption and divine judgment. This verse serves as a stark indictment, underscoring the severe consequences of betraying divine grace and the heightened accountability that accompanies greater spiritual light.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 16 is a lengthy, vivid, and deeply allegorical chapter that meticulously chronicles God's relationship with Jerusalem, personified as an unfaithful bride. The narrative begins with God finding Jerusalem as an abandoned, helpless infant, rescuing her, cleansing her, adorning her with splendor, and entering into a sacred covenant with her, elevating her to a position of unparalleled beauty and prominence (e.g., [Ezekiel 16:8](/ezekiel/16-8 "Ezekiel 16:8 - God's Covenant with Jerusalem")). However, Jerusalem then shamefully prostituted her blessings, using God's gifts for idolatry, engaging in abominable practices with surrounding nations and their gods, and even sacrificing her own children (e.g., [Ezekiel 16:20](/ezekiel/16-20 "Ezekiel 16:20 - Jerusalem's Child Sacrifice")). Verse 48 falls within a section (Ezekiel 16:44-59) where Jerusalem's guilt is explicitly compared and contrasted with that of her "sisters," Samaria (representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and Sodom. This comparison is designed to highlight the unimaginable depth of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, as she is deemed more wicked than both, leading to a declaration of inevitable and severe divine judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Ezekiel was delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, a people struggling to comprehend the devastation of Jerusalem and the Temple. Historically, Judah (represented by Jerusalem) had repeatedly turned away from the Mosaic covenant, engaging in syncretism and idolatry despite numerous warnings from prophets. Culturally, Sodom was universally understood as the epitome of human depravity and divine wrath, its destruction recorded in [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"). To declare Jerusalem's sin worse than Sodom's was an exceptionally provocative and shocking statement, designed to shatter any lingering sense of nationalistic pride or presumed immunity from judgment. It highlighted that God's covenant people were held to a higher standard due to their unique knowledge of His law and His intimate relationship with them, making their betrayal particularly heinous.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. The most prominent is **Unparalleled Guilt**, where Jerusalem's sin is not merely comparable to Sodom's but fundamentally more grievous, a staggering claim given Sodom's infamy and direct divine judgment (e.g., [Genesis 19:24-25](/genesis/19-24 "Genesis 19:24-25 - God's Judgment on Sodom")). This intensified guilt stems from **Covenant Unfaithfulness**, as Jerusalem's spiritual adultery represented a profound betrayal of her sacred covenant relationship with Yahweh, a betrayal far more offensive than the sins of nations who did not know God in the same intimate way. Consequently, the verse underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Justice**, with God's solemn oath ("As I live, saith the Lord GOD") emphasizing the certainty and immutability of His righteous judgment. It reveals God's perfect justice, where sin committed against greater light and privilege incurs greater condemnation. Furthermore, the broader context of Ezekiel 16 clarifies **The Nature of Sodom's Sin**, which, while often associated primarily with sexual immorality, is expanded in [Ezekiel 16:49-50](/ezekiel/16-49 "Ezekiel 16:49-50 - Sodom's Full List of Sins") to include "pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, and of her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Jerusalem's heightened guilt implies that she exhibited these and worse sins, despite God's abundant grace and blessings.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **live (Hebrew, _chay'_):** From the root H2421, meaning "to live." In this context, it is used in the phrase "As I live," which is a solemn divine oath. It signifies God swearing by His very existence and life, underscoring the absolute certainty, truthfulness, and immutability of the declaration that follows. It's an affirmation of God's eternal, active being as the guarantor of His word.
* **saith (Hebrew, _nᵉʼum'_):** From the root H5002, meaning "to utter, declare." This word specifically refers to an oracle or a divine utterance. When used in conjunction with "the Lord GOD," it marks the following statement as a direct, authoritative pronouncement from God Himself, not merely the prophet's words. It lends immense weight and divine authority to the comparison being made.
* **done (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** A primitive root (H6213) with a broad range of meanings including "to do, make, accomplish, perform, commit." Here, it refers to the actions, deeds, or practices of Sodom and Jerusalem. The repetition of "hath not done... as thou hast done" emphasizes the comparative nature of their actions, highlighting the extent of Jerusalem's wicked deeds in contrast to Sodom's. It encompasses the full scope of their moral and spiritual behavior.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As I live, saith the Lord GOD,"**: This opening phrase functions as a divine oath, the strongest possible affirmation of truth and certainty in the biblical idiom. God swears by His own existence, signifying that the declaration to follow is absolutely immutable and guaranteed to be true. It immediately establishes the gravity and solemnity of the pronouncement.
* **"Sodom thy sister hath not done,"**: Here, Sodom is shockingly personified as Jerusalem's "sister," implying a shared, albeit distant, lineage or perhaps a common human condition. The declaration that Sodom "hath not done" implies that even Sodom, a byword for extreme wickedness and a recipient of direct divine judgment, did not commit the same level or type of transgressions as Jerusalem.
* **"she nor her daughters,"**: This phrase extends the comparison to the entire populace and subsequent generations of Sodom, indicating that the collective and historical wickedness of Sodom and its inhabitants did not reach the depths of Jerusalem's sin. "Daughters" here refers to the towns and villages associated with Sodom, or metaphorically, its inhabitants.
* **"as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters."**: This climactic comparison directly indicts Jerusalem (representing Judah and Israel). The phrase "thou and thy daughters" refers to Jerusalem and its surrounding towns or its inhabitants. The shocking assertion is that Jerusalem's actions—her idolatry, covenant breaking, and moral corruption—were quantitatively and qualitatively worse than those of Sodom, despite Jerusalem's unique covenant relationship with God.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 16:48 is rich in literary devices that amplify its shocking message. The most prominent is **Divine Oath**, signaled by "As I live, saith the Lord GOD," which lends absolute certainty and gravity to the pronouncement, emphasizing God's unwavering commitment to His word and judgment. **Personification** is central, as Jerusalem and Sodom are depicted as "sisters" with "daughters," transforming abstract entities into relatable familial figures whose actions can be compared. This device makes the indictment more intimate and impactful. The entire verse functions as a powerful **Comparison and Contrast**, where the infamous wickedness of Sodom is used as a benchmark to highlight Jerusalem's even greater depravity. This is achieved through **Hyperbole** or **Exaggeration for Emphasis**, as the claim that Jerusalem is *worse* than Sodom is designed to shock the audience into recognizing the profound depth of their sin. The repetition of "hath not done... as thou hast done" creates a stark **Antithesis**, underscoring the profound difference in their actions despite the shared "sister" metaphor.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 16:48 powerfully articulates a core biblical principle: greater privilege brings greater accountability. Jerusalem, as God's chosen people, had received unparalleled revelation, covenant blessings, and divine presence, yet she willfully chose to engage in spiritual harlotry and moral abominations that surpassed even the most notorious Gentile city. This verse underscores the gravity of covenant unfaithfulness, revealing that sin committed against the light of God's truth is more grievous in His sight. It highlights God's unwavering justice, demonstrating that His judgment is not arbitrary but perfectly calibrated to the degree of revelation and opportunity rejected. The shocking comparison serves as a sober reminder that spiritual arrogance and complacency in the face of divine grace lead to a more severe condemnation.

* [Genesis 19:24-25](/genesis/19-24 "Genesis 19:24-25 - God's Fiery Judgment on Sodom") - Describes the ultimate destruction of Sodom by fire and brimstone, establishing it as a paradigm of divine judgment against extreme wickedness.
* [Luke 12:48](/luke/12-48 "Luke 12:48 - To Whom Much Is Given") - Jesus teaches, "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
* [Matthew 11:23-24](/matthew/11-23 "Matthew 11:23-24 - Woes to Unrepentant Cities") - Jesus declares that it will be "more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Capernaum), echoing Ezekiel's principle of greater judgment for those who reject greater light.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 16:48 stands as a profound warning to all who have received God's grace and truth, serving as a mirror for self-examination in every generation. It challenges any presumption of divine favor that might lead to spiritual complacency or a diminished view of sin. For believers today, this verse underscores that our accountability before God is directly proportional to the light we have received. If we, who have the fullness of God's revelation in Christ, engage in spiritual idolatry—allowing anything to usurp God's rightful place in our hearts—or neglect justice and mercy, our guilt may be greater than those who have never known Him. This calls us to a radical faithfulness, to cherish God's covenant, and to live lives that reflect the transforming power of His grace, actively pursuing holiness and righteousness, and extending compassion to the poor and needy, lest our own spiritual apathy or hidden sins prove more offensive than the overt wickedness of the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, or my community, be guilty of taking God's grace and blessings for granted, similar to ancient Jerusalem?**
* **What "idols" (whether overt or subtle) might be competing for God's rightful place in my heart and life, leading to spiritual unfaithfulness?**
* **How does the concept of greater accountability for greater light challenge my understanding of personal responsibility and the seriousness of my own sin?**
* **Considering Sodom's full list of sins (pride, idleness, neglect of the poor), how might these less obvious forms of wickedness manifest in my life or society, even within a religious context?**

### FAQ
**What specific sins made Jerusalem worse than Sodom according to Ezekiel?**

Answer: While Ezekiel 16:48 states Jerusalem's actions were worse than Sodom's, the subsequent verses (Ezekiel 16:49-50) clarify Sodom's sins: "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, and of her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good." Jerusalem's "worse" status stemmed from committing these same sins—pride, gluttony, idleness, and neglect of the poor—but doing so despite having received God's covenant, His law, His prophets, and His abundant blessings. Her sin was compounded by spiritual harlotry, sacrificing her children to idols, and using God's own gifts to fund her idolatry (e.g., [Ezekiel 16:20-21](/ezekiel/16-20 "Ezekiel 16:20-21 - Jerusalem's Abominable Practices")). This betrayal of a sacred relationship made her actions more reprehensible than those of a city that never knew God in the same intimate way.

**Does this mean God is unfair in His judgment, judging some more harshly than others?**

Answer: No, this does not indicate unfairness but rather perfect justice. The principle articulated here, and echoed by Jesus in the New Testament (e.g., [Luke 12:48](/luke/12-48 "Luke 12:48 - To Whom Much Is Given")), is that accountability is proportionate to revelation and privilege. Those who have received more light, truth, and blessings from God are held to a higher standard because their rejection of Him is a more deliberate and egregious act of rebellion. God's judgment is always righteous, taking into account the full context of knowledge and opportunity. Jerusalem's unique covenant relationship with God meant her unfaithfulness was a profound betrayal, not merely a transgression of universal moral law, thus incurring a greater measure of divine displeasure.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 16:48, with its shocking indictment of Jerusalem's unparalleled sin, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The verse highlights humanity's profound capacity for unfaithfulness and the severity of sin, particularly when committed against the backdrop of divine grace. While Jerusalem, the unfaithful bride, earned the just condemnation of God, Christ emerges as the perfectly faithful Son and the true Israel, embodying perfect obedience where humanity utterly failed. He willingly bore the full weight of this unparalleled sin and judgment, becoming sin for us (e.g., [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), so that those who believe might be made righteous. The divine oath, "As I live, saith the Lord GOD," which sealed Jerusalem's judgment, also undergirds the certainty of God's redemptive plan in Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus fulfilled the righteous demands of God's law and justice, offering a new covenant (e.g., [Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in Christ's Blood")) that transforms unfaithful humanity into a pure and spotless bride, the Church (e.g., [Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")), eagerly awaiting the marriage supper of the Lamb (e.g., [Revelation 19:7-9](/revelation/19-7 "Revelation 19:7-9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")). Thus, the terrifying reality of Jerusalem's sin in Ezekiel 16:48 ultimately points to the glorious, redemptive work of Christ, who alone can make us faithful and righteous before God.

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

Matthew 10:15

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Luke 10:12

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Matthew 11:23

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Matthew 11:24

But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Mark 6:11

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.