Ezekiel 16:49

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Behold, this was the iniquity {H5771} of thy sister {H269} Sodom {H5467}, pride {H1347}, fulness {H7653} of bread {H3899}, and abundance {H7962} of idleness {H8252} was in her and in her daughters {H1323}, neither did she strengthen {H2388} the hand {H3027} of the poor {H6041} and needy {H34}.

The crimes of your sister S'dom were pride and gluttony; she and her daughters were careless and complacent, so that they did nothing to help the poor and needy.

Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:49 delivers a profound and often overlooked indictment against the ancient city of Sodom, detailing the core societal sins that led to its destruction. While Sodom is frequently associated with sexual perversion, this verse reveals a deeper moral decay rooted in pride, material excess, idleness, and a striking neglect of social responsibility.

Context

In Ezekiel chapter 16, God uses a vivid allegory to describe the history of Jerusalem, portraying her as a foundling child raised to royalty by divine grace, who then betrayed Him through spiritual adultery and idolatry. This powerful chapter highlights Jerusalem's unfaithfulness and underscores the severity of her sin. Verse 49 is particularly striking because it compares Jerusalem's iniquity to that of Sodom, her "sister," suggesting that Jerusalem's sins were, in fact, even more egregious (Ezekiel 16:51). This comparison serves to shock and convict, revealing that Sodom's downfall was not merely a matter of one specific sin but a comprehensive moral collapse.

Key Themes and Sins

  • Pride: The first sin listed, pride (Hebrew: ga'on), signifies an arrogant self-sufficiency and an inflated sense of importance. Sodom's prosperity likely fueled this haughtiness, leading them to believe they needed neither God nor compassion for others.
  • Fulness of Bread (Excess and Gluttony): This refers to an abundance of material wealth and unchecked indulgence. Sodom enjoyed immense prosperity, but instead of using their resources responsibly or charitably, they consumed them selfishly. This theme warns against the spiritual dangers of luxury and overconsumption without gratitude or discipline, a lesson echoed in parables like that of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).
  • Abundance of Idleness: Prosperity, when coupled with a lack of purpose or spiritual vigilance, often leads to laziness and complacency. This "abundance of idleness" suggests a life of ease that fostered moral decay, where there was no need for productive work or active engagement in good deeds, allowing sin to fester.
  • Neglect of the Poor and Needy: This is the crucial outward manifestation of the inward sins. Despite their wealth, Sodom failed to extend a helping hand to the vulnerable within their society. This profound lack of charity and social responsibility is presented as a significant "iniquity," emphasizing that God holds societies accountable for their treatment of the less fortunate. This social injustice was a key aspect of their wickedness, aligning with prophetic calls for righteousness and justice throughout the Old Testament (Amos 5:24).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "iniquity," ʿāwōn, frequently denotes a deviation from the right path, a moral perversity, or guilt. The phrase "fulness of bread" (Hebrew: śobʿat leḥem) literally means "satiety of bread," highlighting an excessive and luxurious consumption. Coupled with "abundance of idleness" (Hebrew: shalvat sha'anan), which can imply peaceful ease or security leading to careless indifference, the text paints a vivid picture of a society consumed by its own comfort and luxury, oblivious to spiritual and social duties.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:49 offers a timeless and powerful warning for individuals and societies today. It challenges us to look beyond overt sins and examine the more subtle, yet equally destructive, sins of the heart and community. Are we, in our own prosperity, succumbing to pride, excessive consumption, or spiritual apathy? Do we neglect the vulnerable and needy in our midst, failing to practice compassion and justice? This verse reminds us that true righteousness involves not only avoiding outward transgression but also cultivating humility, practicing generosity, living purposefully, and actively caring for those less fortunate. It underscores the biblical principle that faith without works is dead and that genuine love for God is demonstrated through love for one's neighbor (James 2:26; Matthew 22:39).

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 28:2

    Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

  • Genesis 13:10

    ¶ And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

  • Psalms 138:6

    ¶ Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

  • Luke 12:16

    And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

  • Luke 12:20

    But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • Daniel 5:23

    But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

  • Proverbs 18:12

    ¶ Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility.
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