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Commentary on Ezekiel 16 verses 44–59
The prophet here further shows Jerusalem her abominations, by comparing her with those places that had gone before her, and showing that she was worse than any of them, and therefore should, like them, be utterly and irreparably ruined. We are all apt to judge of ourselves by comparison, and to imagine that we are sufficiently good if we are but as good as such and such, who are thought passable; or that we are not dangerously bad if we are no worse than such and such, who, though bad, are not of the worst. Now God by the prophet shows Jerusalem,
I. That she was as bad as her mother, that is, as the accursed devoted Canaanites that were the possessors of this land before her. Those that use proverbs, as most people do, shall apply that proverb to Jerusalem, As is the mother, so is her daughter, Eze 16:44. She is her mother's own child. The Jews are as like the Canaanites in temper and inclination as if they had been their own children. The character of the mother was that she loathed her husband and her children, she had all the marks of an adulteress; and that is the character of the daughter: she forsakes the guide of her youth, and is barbarous to the children of her own bowels. When God brought Israel into Canaan he particularly warned them not to do according to the abominations of the men of that land, who went before them (for which it had spued them out, Lev 18:27, Lev 18:28), the monuments of whose idolatry, with the remains of the idolaters themselves, would be a continual temptation to them; but they learned their way, and trod in their steps, and were as well affected to the idols of Canaan as ever they were (Psa 106:38), and thus, in respect of imitation, it might truly be said that their mother was a Hittite and their father an Amorite (Eze 16:45), for they resembled them more than Abraham and Sarah.
II. That she was worse than her sisters Sodom and Samaria, that were adulteresses too, that loathed their husbands and their children, that were weary of the gods of their fathers, and were for introducing new gods, a-la-mode - quite in style, that came newly up, and new fashions in religion, and were given to change. On this comparison between Jerusalem and her sisters the prophet here enlarges, that he might either shame them into repentance or justify God in their ruin. Observe,
1.Who Jerusalem's sisters were, Eze 16:45. Samaria and Sodom. Samaria is called the elder sister, or rather the greater, because it was a much larger city and kingdom, richer and more considerable, and more nearly allied to Israel. If Jerusalem look northward, this is partly on her left hand. This city of Samaria, and the towns and villages, that were as daughters to that mother-city, these had been lately destroyed for their spiritual whoredom. Sodom, and the adjacent towns and villages that were her daughters, dwelt at Jerusalem's right hand, and was her less sister, less than Jerusalem, less than Samaria, and these were of old destroyed for their corporeal whoredom, Jde 1:7.
2.Wherein Jerusalem's sins resembled her sisters', particularly Sodom's (v. 49): This was the iniquity of Sodom (it is implied, and this is thy iniquity too), pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness. Their going after strange flesh, which was Sodom's most flagrant wickedness, is not mentioned, because notoriously known, but those sins which did not look so black, but opened the door and led the way to these more enormous crimes, and began to fill that measure of her sins, which was filled up at length by their unnatural filthiness. Now these initiating sins were, (1.) Pride, in which the heart lifts up itself above and against both God and man. Pride was the first sin that turned angels into devils, and the garden of the Lord into a hell upon earth. It was the pride of the Sodomites that they despised righteous Lot, and would not bear to be reproved by him; and this ripened them for ruin. (2.) Gluttony, here called fulness of bread. It was God's great mercy that they had plenty, but their great sin that they abused it, glutted themselves with it, ate to excess and drank to excess, and made that the gratification of their lusts which was given them to be the support of their lives. (3.) Idleness, abundance of idleness, a dread of labour and a love of ease. Their country was fruitful, and the abundance they had they came easily by, which was a temptation to them to indulge themselves in sloth, which disposed them to all that abominable filthiness which kindled their flames. Note, Idleness is an inlet to much sin. The men of Sodom, who were idle, were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly, Gen 13:13. The standing waters gather filth and the sitting bird is the fowler's mark. When David arose from off his bed at evening he saw Bathsheba. Quaeritur, Aegisthus quare sit factus adulter? In promptu causa est; desidiosus erat - What made Aegisthus an adulterer? Indolence. (4.) Oppression: Neither did she strengthen the hands of the poor and needy; probably it is implied that she weakened their hands and broke their arms; however, it was bad enough that, when she had so much wealth, and consequently power and interest and leisure, she did nothing for the relief of the poor, in providing for whose wants those that themselves are full of bread may employ their time well; they need not be so abundantly idle as too often they are. These were the sins of the Sodomites, and these were Jerusalem's sins. Their pride, the cause of their sins, is mentioned again (Eze 16:50): They were haughty, with the horrid effects of their sins, their abominations which they committed before God. Men arrive gradually at the height of impiety and wickedness. Nemo repente fit turpissimus - No man reaches the height of vice at once. But, where pride has got the ascendant in a man, he is in the high road to all abominations.
3.How much the sins of Jerusalem exceeded those of Sodom and Samaria; they were more heinous in the sight of God, either in themselves or by reason of several aggravations: "Thou hast not only walked after their ways, and trod in their steps, but hast quite outdone them in wickedness, Eze 16:47. Thou thoughtest it a very little thing to do as they did; didst laugh at them as sneaking sinners and silly ones; thou wouldst be more cunning, more daring, in wickedness, wouldst triumph more boldly over thy convictions, and bid more open defiance to God and religion: 'if a man will break, let him break for something.' Thus thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways." Jerusalem was more polite, and therefore sinned with more wit, more art and ingenuity, than Sodom and Samaria could. Jerusalem had more wealth and power, and its government was more absolute and arbitrary, and therefore had the more opportunity of oppressing the poor, and shedding malignant influences around her, than Sodom and Samaria had. Jerusalem had the temple, and the ark, and the priesthood, and kings of the house of David; and therefore the wickedness of that holy city, that was so dignified, so near, so dear to God, was more provoking to him than the wickedness of Sodom and Samaria, that had not Jerusalem's privileges and means of grace. Sodom has not done as thou hast done, Eze 16:48. This agrees with what Christ says. Mat 11:24, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee. The kingdom of the ten tribes had been very wicked; and yet Samaria has not committed half thy sins (Eze 16:51), has not worshipped half so many idols, nor slain half so many prophets. It was bad enough that those of Jerusalem were guilty of Sodom's sins, Sodomy itself not excepted, Kg1 14:24; Kg2 23:7. And though the Dead Sea, the standing monument of Sodom's sin and ruin, bordered upon their country (Num 34:12), and that sulphureous lake was always under their nose (God having taken away Sodom and her daughters in such way and manner as he saw good, as he says here, Eze 16:50, so as that one thing should effectually make their overthrow an example to those that afterwards should live ungodly, Pe2 2:6), yet they did not take warning, but multiplied their abominations more than they; and, (1.) By this they justified Sodom and Samaria, Eze 16:51. They pretended, in their haughtiness and superciliousness, to judge them, and in the days of old, when they retained their integrity, they did judge them, Eze 16:52. But now they justify them comparatively: Sodom and Samaria are more righteous than thou, that is, less wicked. It will look like some extenuation of their sins that, bad as they were, Jerusalem was worse, though it was God's own city. Not that it will serve for a plea to justify Sodom, but it condemns Jerusalem, against which Sodom and Samaria will rise up in judgment. (2.) For this they ought themselves to be greatly ashamed: "Thou who hast judged thy sisters, and cried out shame on them, now bear thy own shame, for thy sins which thou hast committed, which, though of the same kind with theirs, yet, being committed by thee, are more abominable than theirs," Eze 16:52. This may be taken either as foretelling their ruin (Thou shalt bear thy shame) or as inviting them to repentance: "Be thou confounded and bear thy shame; take the shame to thyself that is due to thee." It may be hoped that sinners will forsake their sins when they begin to be heartily ashamed of them. And therefore they shall go into captivity, and there they shall lie, that they may be confounded in all that they have done, because they had been a comfort and encouragement to Sodom and Samaria, Eze 16:54. Note, There is nothing in sin which we have more reason to be ashamed of than this, that by our sin we have encouraged others in sin, and comforted them in that for which they must be grieved or they are undone. Another reason why they must now be ashamed is because in the day of their prosperity they had looked with so much disdain upon their neighbours: Thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thee in the day of they pride, Eze 16:56. They thought Sodom not worthy to be named the same day with Jerusalem, little dreaming that Jerusalem would at length lie under a worse and more scandalous character than Sodom herself. Those that are high may perhaps come to stand upon a level with those they contemn. Or "Sodom was not mentioned, that is, the warning designed to be given to thee by Sodom's ruin was not regarded." If the Jews had but talked more frequently and seriously to one another, and to their children, concerning the wrath of God revealed from heaven against Sodom's ungodliness and unrighteousness, it might have kept them in awe, and prevented their treading in their steps; but they kept the thought of it at a distance, would not bear the mention of it, and (as the ancients say) put Isaiah to death for putting them in mind of it, when he called them rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah, Isa 1:10. Note, Those are but preparing judgments for themselves that will not take notice of God's judgments upon others.
4.What desolations God had brought and was bringing upon Jerusalem for these wickednesses, wherein they had exceeded Sodom and Samaria. (1.) She has already long ago been disgraced, and has fallen into contempt, among her neighbours (Eze 16:57): Before her wickedness was discovered, before she came to be so grossly and openly flagitious, she bore the just punishment of her secret and more concealed lewdness, when she fell under the reproach of the daughters of Syria, of the Philistines, who were said to despise her and be ashamed of her (Eze 16:27), and under the reproach of all that were round about her, which seems to refer to the descent made upon Judah by the Syrians in the days of Ahaz, and soon after another by the Philistines, Ch2 28:5, Ch2 28:18. Note, Those that disgrace themselves by yielding to their lusts will justly be brought into disgrace by being made to yield to their enemies; and it is observable that before God brought potent enemies upon them, for their destruction, he brought enemies upon them that were less formidable, for their reproach. If less judgments would do the work, God would not send greater. In this thou hast borne thy lewdness, Eze 16:58. Those that will not cast off their sins by repentance and reformation shall be made to bear their sins to their confusion. (2.) She is now in captivity, or hastening into captivity, and therein is reckoned with, not only for her lewdness (Eze 16:58), but for her perfidiousness and covenant-breaking (Eze 16:59): "I will deal with thee as thou hast done; I will forsake thee as thou hast forsaken me, and cast thee off as thou hast cast me off, for thou hast despised the oath, in breaking the covenant." This seems to be meant of the covenant God made with their fathers at Mount Sinai, whereby he took them and theirs to be a peculiar people to himself. They flattered themselves with a conceit that because God had hitherto continued his favour to them, notwithstanding their provocations, he would do so still. "No," says God, "you have broken covenant with me, have despised both the promises of the covenant and the obligations of it, and therefore I will deal with thee as thou hast done." Note, Those that will not adhere to God as their God have no reason to expect that he should continue to own them as his people. (3.) The captivity of the wicked Jews, and their ruin, shall be as irrevocable as that of Sodom and Samaria. In this sense, as a threatening, most interpreters take Eze 16:53, Eze 16:55. "When I shall bring again the captivity of Sodom and Samaria, and when they shall return to their former estate, then I will bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them, and as it were for their sakes, and under their shadow and protection, because they are more righteous than thou, and then thou shalt return to thy former estate," But Sodom and Samaria were never brought back, nor ever returned to their former estate, and therefore let not Jerusalem expect it, that is, those who now remained there, whom God would deliver to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, Jer 24:9, Jer 24:10. Sooner shall the Sodomites arise out of the salt sea, and the Samaritans return out of the land of Assyria, than they enjoy their peace and prosperity again; for, to their shame be it spoken, it is a comfort to those of the ten tribes, who are dispersed and in captivity, to see those of the two tribes who had been as bad as they, or worse, in like manner dispersed and in captivity; and therefore they shall live and die, shall stand and fall, together. The bad ones of both shall perish together; the good ones of both shall return together. Note, Those who do as the worst of sinners do must expect to fare as they fare. Let my enemy be as the wicked.
(Verse 56 and following) However, your sister Sodom was not heard in your mouth on the day of your pride before your wickedness was revealed, like it is now with the disgrace of the daughters of Syria, and all the daughters of Philistia around you who surround you. You carried your own wickedness and disgrace, says the Lord God. LXX: If your sister Sodom had not been heard in your mouth on the days of your pride before your wickedness was revealed, like it is now with the daughters of Syria, and if this had not been so, what would have happened to you and all the foreign daughters around you who surround you? You carry your impieties and your iniquities. Symmachus interpreted this passage as follows: Because your sister Sodom was not heard through your mouth on the day of your pride, before your disgrace was revealed, like the time of reproach of the daughters of Syria and all the daughters of Palestine around you, who surround you in a circle. You will bear your crime and your wickedness. Theodotus interpreted it as follows: And your sister Sodom was not heard through your mouth on the day of your pride, before your evil was revealed: like the time of reproach of the daughters of Syria and all the daughters of foreign nations around it, who abhor you in a circle. Your fornication and your contaminations, you have borne, says the Lord Adonai. Our translation agrees with the Aquila edition; all of which I have placed, so that from the comparison of all, we may find some trace of meaning, and in the meantime without prejudice from others, it seems to us that the order of the reading must be restored as follows: In the days of your pride, when you were sinning, you did not remember the overthrow of your sister Sodom, before your wickedness was revealed to such an extent that you became a reproach to all the cities of Syria and Palestine which are around you. Therefore, because you have overcome in the crime against your sister, and you were not terrified by her example, so as not to endure similar things, and you did not refrain from stepping forward: now, however, your disgrace has been revealed, listen to the sentence of God. Either you have carried, according to the Septuagint: or you have carried, according to Aquila and Theodotion: or you will carry, according to Symmachus, your crime and disgrace, so that after you have endured punishment for sacrilege, you may obtain forgiveness not by your own terms, but by my clemency. Syria is said to be called Aram in the Hebrew language, which means 'sublimity'. And according to the explanation of that passage of the prophet Isaiah, in which Aram and Ephraim conspire against Judah and Jerusalem, the clever wisdom of the nations and the claim of sublimity in knowledge, joined with the malice of heretics, attacks Judah, in which there is true confession and cannot be overcome. Here also the same arrogance of Syria, that is, of the philosophers with the daughters of foreigners, in which the manifold errors of various doctrines are shown among nations, mocks Jerusalem and reproaches her, though she is overcome by her own vices.
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SUMMARY
Ezekiel 16:56 delivers a searing indictment of Jerusalem's profound spiritual arrogance and hypocrisy. Within this extended allegory where Jerusalem is portrayed as an unfaithful bride, the Lord reveals that her depravity had escalated to such an extent that, in her self-exalted state, she deliberately refrained from even mentioning Sodom. This calculated silence, born of a deluded sense of moral superiority, stands in stark contrast to Jerusalem's actual wickedness, which God declares to be even more egregious than that of the notoriously sinful city of Sodom. The verse powerfully underscores the blinding nature of pride and foreshadows the inevitable divine judgment upon a people who had betrayed their sacred covenant with God despite receiving immense grace and unparalleled privilege.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Ezekiel 16 is one of the most vivid and extended allegories in the prophetic literature, portraying God's covenant relationship with Jerusalem (representing the nation of Israel) as a marriage. The chapter begins with God recounting His gracious act of finding Jerusalem as an abandoned, helpless infant, rescuing her, nurturing her, adorning her with splendor, and entering into an unbreakable covenant with her, making her beautiful and prosperous. However, despite this unparalleled grace and favor, Jerusalem turned to spiritual harlotry, prostituting herself with foreign idols and alliances, becoming utterly unfaithful. The narrative builds to a shocking climax where God declares Jerusalem's sins to be so egregious that she made her "sisters," Samaria (representing the northern kingdom of Israel) and Sodom, appear righteous in comparison, as articulated in Ezekiel 16:51. Verse 56 specifically hones in on Jerusalem's arrogant mindset, revealing her disdain for Sodom even as she surpassed Sodom in wickedness, setting the stage for God's just judgment and eventual, albeit distant, restoration.
Historical & Cultural Context: The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile, a time when Jerusalem had either recently fallen (586 BC) or was on the brink of it. His audience, exiled Israelites, grappled with the devastating reality of their captivity and struggled to reconcile God's covenant promises with their current suffering. The mention of "Sodom" immediately evoked a universally recognized symbol of extreme moral depravity and divine wrath, as narrated in Genesis 19. For Jerusalem, the chosen city, to be compared unfavorably to Sodom was the ultimate insult and a profound theological shock, challenging their deeply ingrained sense of election and superiority. Culturally, the people of Judah often held a strong sense of their own righteousness, looking down upon other nations, especially those known for their paganism and immorality. This verse exposes the deep hypocrisy inherent in their self-perception, highlighting how their covenant relationship with Yahweh, far from excusing their sin, actually magnified its severity.
Key Themes: Ezekiel 16:56 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Ezekiel and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of Blinding Pride and Arrogance, where Jerusalem's profound self-exaltation prevented her from acknowledging the true depth of her moral and spiritual corruption. She looked down on Sodom, failing to recognize that her actions had surpassed Sodom's wickedness, illustrating how pride precedes destruction, as warned in Proverbs 16:18. This leads directly to the theme of Hypocrisy and Self-Righteousness, as the verse exposes Jerusalem's pretense: while condemning notorious sinners like Sodom, she was guilty of even greater offenses against God's covenant, a stark warning against judging others while being steeped in greater personal sin, a theme echoed by Jesus in Matthew 7:3-5. Furthermore, the verse underscores the Severity of Jerusalem's Sin, emphasizing that her betrayal of a covenant relationship with God, having received unparalleled grace and privilege, was more culpable than the sin of those who acted without such light. Ultimately, it highlights the theme of Divine Justice and Judgment, demonstrating that Jerusalem's pride and unfaithfulness made her ripe for the righteous consequences of her actions.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Ezekiel 16:56 is rich with literary devices that amplify its powerful and unsettling message. The entire chapter is an extended Allegory, where Jerusalem is personified as an unfaithful bride, and this verse specifically contributes to that narrative by drawing a shocking comparison to Sodom. This comparison itself is a form of Hyperbole, as God declares Jerusalem's sin to be so egregious that it makes Sodom appear righteous, a rhetorical exaggeration designed to shock the audience and emphasize the profound depth of Jerusalem's betrayal. There is also profound Irony present: Jerusalem, in her pride, refuses to mention Sodom, yet it is precisely this pride and her greater sin that make her worse than Sodom in God's eyes, a tragic reversal of her self-perception. The phrase "not mentioned by thy mouth" also employs Metonymy, where "mouth" stands for speech or discourse, highlighting Jerusalem's deliberate avoidance of acknowledging her moral kinship with the infamous city, and by extension, her refusal to learn from its fate.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 16:56 powerfully articulates God's abhorrence of spiritual pride and hypocrisy, especially from those who have received abundant grace and knowledge of His covenant. It underscores the profound theological truth that privilege brings greater responsibility, and the betrayal of an intimate covenant relationship is far more grievous than the sin of those who act without such light. The verse also highlights God's unwavering justice, demonstrating that He sees beyond outward appearances and self-righteous declarations, judging the heart and holding His people accountable for their actions. It serves as a stark reminder that self-deception, fueled by pride and a false sense of superiority, inevitably leads to divine judgment.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 16:56 offers a timeless and sobering mirror for individuals and communities of faith today. It challenges us to confront the insidious nature of spiritual pride, which can blind us to our own faults while we are quick to condemn others. The "day of pride" can manifest in our lives when we become complacent in our faith, relying on past blessings, our theological knowledge, or outward religious observances as a shield against honest self-examination. This verse calls us to cultivate radical humility, recognizing that our standing before God is not based on our perceived superiority over others, but on His unfathomable grace and our genuine repentance. It compels us to look inward, to acknowledge our own capacity for sin, and to continually seek God's mercy and transformation, rather than falling into the destructive trap of self-righteousness. True spiritual health is marked by a contrite heart, a willingness to learn from the failures of others (including those we might deem "worse" than ourselves), and a profound dependence on God's grace rather than our own perceived merits.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean that Jerusalem "was not mentioned by thy mouth" in relation to Sodom?
Answer: This phrase signifies Jerusalem's arrogant refusal to acknowledge any kinship or comparison with Sodom. In her "day of pride," Jerusalem considered herself morally and spiritually superior to Sodom, a city infamous for its extreme depravity and catastrophic divine judgment. By not mentioning Sodom, Jerusalem sought to distance herself from such a notorious example, believing herself to be above such wickedness and thus immune to similar judgment. The profound irony, as revealed in the preceding verses of Ezekiel 16, is that Jerusalem's sins, particularly her idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness despite receiving immense divine favor, had become even more grievous than Sodom's. Thus, her silence was a sign of profound self-deception and deep-seated hypocrisy.
How could Jerusalem's sin be considered worse than Sodom's?
Answer: Ezekiel 16 makes it abundantly clear that Jerusalem's sin was considered more egregious due to the unparalleled light, knowledge, and privilege she had received from God. Sodom sinned in ignorance and pagan darkness, without the benefit of a divine covenant, miraculous deliverance from Egypt, or the direct revelation of God's law. Jerusalem, on the other hand, was chosen by God, rescued from abandonment, nurtured, adorned with splendor, and entered into a sacred covenant with Him, becoming His "bride" (Ezekiel 16:8). Her idolatry and spiritual harlotry were therefore a profound betrayal of this intimate relationship and a direct affront to the God who had lavished His love and blessings upon her. This greater knowledge and greater privilege meant that her rebellion was far more culpable in God's eyes, making her "more corrupt than they" (Ezekiel 16:47).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 16:56, with its stark portrayal of Jerusalem's pride and profound sinfulness against the backdrop of immense divine grace, finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "day of pride" for Jerusalem, marked by self-righteousness and a refusal to acknowledge her true spiritual state, foreshadows humanity's universal condition of sin and our inherent inability to save ourselves through our own perceived goodness or moral superiority. Just as Jerusalem's covenant relationship magnified her sin, so too does the Law of God reveal the depth of our transgression, demonstrating that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Christ, the true and faithful Israel, perfectly fulfilled the covenant that Jerusalem so utterly broke. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13), offering grace to those who, unlike proud Jerusalem, acknowledge their spiritual bankruptcy. His atoning sacrifice on the cross became the ultimate answer to humanity's pride and rebellion, taking upon Himself the judgment due for sins far greater than Sodom's, sins committed against the light of God's revelation and love. Through His resurrection, He offers a new covenant, not based on human performance or pride, but on His perfect righteousness and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, enabling a humility and true righteousness that Jerusalem tragically lacked (Hebrews 8:6). In Christ, the condemnation of Ezekiel 16:56 is overturned for all who humble themselves and believe, finding forgiveness and restoration in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).