None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
None eye {H5869} pitied {H2347} thee, to do {H6213} any {H259} of these unto thee, to have compassion {H2550} upon thee; but thou wast cast out {H7993} in the open {H6440} field {H7704}, to the lothing {H1604} of thy person {H5315}, in the day {H3117} that thou wast born {H3205}.
No one seeing you had enough pity on you to do any of these things for you - no one had any compassion on you. Instead, you were thrown into an open field in your own filth on the day you were born.
No one cared enough for you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. Instead, you were thrown out into the open field, because you were despised on the day of your birth.
No eye pitied thee, to do any of these things unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, for that thy person was abhorred, in the day that thou wast born.
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Deuteronomy 32:10
He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. -
Exodus 1:22
And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. -
Genesis 21:10
Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac. -
Lamentations 4:3
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people [is become] cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. -
Numbers 19:16
And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. -
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. -
Lamentations 2:11
Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
Context
Ezekiel 16 presents one of the most vivid and extended allegories in the Old Testament, where God addresses Jerusalem (representing the nation of Israel) as a foundling, an abandoned infant girl. This powerful imagery serves to illustrate Israel's humble and unprivileged origins, contrasting sharply with the immense favor and blessings God later bestowed upon her. Verse 5 specifically describes the initial, desperate state of this "newborn" before God's intervention, setting the stage for the dramatic rescue and covenant relationship that follows.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "to the lothing of thy person" uses a Hebrew word (related to qûṣ) that conveys a strong sense of disgust or abhorrence. It emphasizes that the infant's state was not just pitiful but also repulsive, making the subsequent act of God's love and care in entering into a covenant with her all the more remarkable and a testament to His unconditional grace.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 16:5 serves as a profound reminder of humanity's spiritual state before God. Like the abandoned infant, we are born into a condition of helplessness and spiritual death, unable to save ourselves or earn God's favor. No "eye pitied" us in our lost state. This verse underscores the foundational truth that salvation is entirely a work of God's unmerited grace and compassion. Just as God reached out to Israel in her most vulnerable moment, so too does He extend His saving hand to all who are spiritually "cast out," demonstrating His boundless love and willingness to make a covenant with those who have nothing to offer in return. This should foster humility and profound gratitude for His divine initiative and mercy.