Ezekiel 16:6

KJV

¶ And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when I passed {H5674} by thee, and saw {H7200} thee polluted {H947} in thine own blood {H1818}, I said {H559} unto thee when thou wast in thy blood {H1818}, Live {H2421}; yea, I said {H559} unto thee when thou wast in thy blood {H1818}, Live {H2421}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'I passed by and saw you there, wallowing in your own blood; and as you lay in your blood I said to you, "Live!" Yes, I said to you, as you lay in your blood, "Live!

Berean Standard Bible

Then I passed by and saw you wallowing in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, ‘Live!’ There I said to you, ‘Live!’

American Standard Version

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee weltering in thy blood, I said unto thee, Though thou art in thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee, Though thou art in thy blood, live.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 16:6 presents a profound depiction of God's sovereign grace and life-giving power. In this pivotal verse, the Lord recounts His compassionate intervention when He discovered Jerusalem, symbolizing Israel, as an abandoned, newborn infant, utterly defiled and left to perish in its own birth blood. With an emphatic, repeated divine decree, "Live!", God initiates a miraculous transformation, rescuing the helpless and giving life where there was only death and pollution, thereby laying the foundational moment for His covenant relationship with His chosen people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 16 is a lengthy, vivid allegory that traces the entire history of Jerusalem (representing Judah and Israel) from its ignoble origins to its ultimate downfall due to unfaithfulness. The chapter begins by describing Jerusalem's humble and despised birth, likening it to an abandoned, unwashed infant (Ezekiel 16:1-5). This sets the stage for the dramatic intervention of God in verse 6, where He finds the infant in its most vulnerable and repulsive state. The subsequent verses (Ezekiel 16:7-14) detail God's nurturing, beautifying, and covenanting with this once-despised child, elevating her to a position of splendor and renown among the nations. This initial act of grace in [Ezekiel 16:6](/ezekiel/16-6 "Ezekiel 16:6 - God's Life-Giving Decree") is the foundational moment upon which all subsequent blessings and, tragically, the later judgments for unfaithfulness are built, highlighting the depth of God's initial, unmerited love.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of an abandoned newborn left to die was a stark and culturally resonant picture of extreme destitution and vulnerability in the ancient Near East. Infants born with deformities or unwanted children were sometimes exposed, left to perish without care. The "blood" refers to the immediate post-birth state, where the infant is still covered in amniotic fluid, blood, and afterbirth, typically requiring immediate washing and care. To be "polluted in thine own blood" signifies a state of utter uncleanness, neglect, and imminent death, underscoring the complete absence of any human intervention or care. This vivid metaphor underscores Israel's pagan origins and lack of inherent merit, as described in [Ezekiel 16:3](/ezekiel/16-3 "Ezekiel 16:3 - Jerusalem's Pagan Origins"). God's act of passing by and giving life was thus an extraordinary, unmerited act of mercy, completely counter to the natural course of events for such an abandoned child, demonstrating His unique compassion.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several major themes that permeate Ezekiel 16 and the broader prophetic message of the book. First and foremost is **God's Sovereign Grace and Unmerited Love**. God's intervention is entirely unsolicited and unearned, demonstrating His compassionate initiative towards a people utterly undeserving of His favor, echoing the principle found in [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7-8 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Choice of Israel Not Based on Merit"). Second is the **Power of God's Life-Giving Word**. The repeated divine command "Live!" is not merely a wish but a creative, authoritative decree that brings life out of death, paralleling the creative power of God's word in [Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Speaks Creation into Being"). Third, the imagery of being "polluted in thine own blood" emphasizes **Human Helplessness and Spiritual Death** without divine intervention, a state of defilement from which humanity cannot rescue itself. This sets the stage for understanding the depth of Israel's subsequent unfaithfulness against such profound grace.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Polluted (Hebrew, _bûwç'_):** From H947, meaning "to trample (literally or figuratively); loath, tread (down, under (foot)), be polluted." In this context, it vividly describes the infant's state of being utterly defiled and despised, as if trampled underfoot, emphasizing extreme uncleanness and vulnerability. It conveys a sense of being an object of revulsion, left without care, signifying a state of profound neglect and worthlessness in the eyes of others.
* **Blood (Hebrew, _dâm'_):** From H1818, referring to "blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e., drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent." Here, "in thine own blood" specifically denotes the unwashed, unsanitized state of a newborn, covered in the fluids of birth, signifying utter helplessness, uncleanness, and a state of imminent death if not cared for. Its repetition underscores the severity of the infant's plight and the depth of its defilement.
* **Live (Hebrew, _châyâh'_):** From H2421, a primitive root meaning "to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole." This powerful imperative is a divine decree that directly counteracts the state of death and pollution, bringing forth existence and vitality by God's sheer will and authoritative word.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood":** This clause establishes God's initiative and the dire state of the object of His attention. "Passed by" (H5674, `ʻâbar`) suggests a deliberate, attentive observation, not a casual glance, implying a divine purpose in His encounter. "Saw thee" (H7200, `râʼâh`) implies a discerning gaze that fully comprehends the wretchedness and hopelessness of the situation. The phrase "polluted in thine own blood" graphically portrays the infant's (Jerusalem's/Israel's) utterly defiled, helpless, and abandoned condition, on the brink of death, without any external intervention or hope of survival.
* **"I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live":** This is the core of God's redemptive act and divine decree. The repetition of "I said unto thee... Live" (H559, `ʼâmar`, and H2421, `châyâh`) emphasizes the absolute authority, creative power, and unwavering certainty of God's spoken word. It is a divine command that overrides the natural course of death and brings forth life where none existed. The repeated phrase "when thou wast in thy blood" serves as a stark reminder of the original, desperate condition from which this life was granted, highlighting that the life was given not because of any inherent merit or worthiness in the infant, but purely out of God's sovereign will and boundless compassion.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 16:6 is rich in **Allegory**, where the abandoned infant represents Jerusalem/Israel, and God's actions symbolize His redemptive history with His people, particularly His unmerited grace in their formation. The verse employs vivid **Imagery**, particularly the graphic depiction of an unwashed newborn "polluted in thine own blood," which evokes a strong sense of revulsion, helplessness, and imminent death, making God's subsequent intervention all the more striking and miraculous. **Repetition** is a key rhetorical device, with the phrase "I said unto thee... Live" appearing twice, emphasizing the divine authority, life-giving power, and unwavering resolve of God's word. The repetition of "in thy blood" similarly underscores the depth of the initial defilement and the utterly unmerited nature of God's grace. This masterful use of **Contrast** between the state of death and pollution and the divine declaration of life powerfully highlights God's transformative power and His compassionate initiative.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 16:6 is a foundational text for understanding God's unmerited grace and sovereign initiative in salvation. It profoundly illustrates that humanity, left to its own spiritual condition, is utterly helpless, defiled, and destined for spiritual death—a state from which it cannot rescue itself. God's act of "passing by" and commanding "Live!" demonstrates that salvation is not a response to human worthiness or effort, but a unilateral, compassionate decree stemming purely from His divine will and love. This verse serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual rebirth experienced by individuals, where God's life-giving word transforms a state of spiritual death and defilement into new life. It underscores the absolute dependence of all creation, and especially humanity, on the active, creative, and redemptive power of God, revealing a God who intervenes out of pure, unadulterated mercy.

* [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7-8 "God's Unmerited Choice of Israel")
* [Ephesians 2:1-5](/ephesians/2-1-5 "Dead in Sins, Made Alive in Christ")
* [John 5:24-25](/john/5-24-25 "Hearing God's Voice and Living")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 16:6 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that our spiritual journey, indeed our very spiritual existence, began not with our striving or merit, but with God's compassionate gaze and His life-giving word. Just as the infant in the allegory was utterly helpless, so too were we spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to cleanse or save ourselves. This verse calls us to a deeper appreciation of the radical nature of God's grace, recognizing that every breath of spiritual life we possess is a direct result of His unmerited favor. It should foster profound humility, overwhelming gratitude, and a renewed commitment to living lives that honor the One who spoke life into our spiritual death. For those who have not yet heard or responded to God's life-giving call, it serves as a powerful invitation to recognize their desperate need and to trust in the God who gives life to the dead, for He alone possesses the power to transform utter defilement into vibrant existence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of being "polluted in thine own blood" challenge your understanding of human depravity and the necessity of divine intervention?**
* **In what ways does the repetition of "Live!" affirm the power and authority of God's word in your own life?**
* **How does recognizing God's unmerited grace in this verse impact your gratitude and worship, leading you to a deeper sense of humility and dependence?**

### FAQ
**What does "polluted in thine own blood" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Ezekiel 16:6, "polluted in thine own blood" is a vivid and graphic metaphor describing the state of an abandoned newborn infant, unwashed and still covered in the blood and fluids of birth. It signifies a state of extreme defilement, utter helplessness, and imminent death due to neglect. Theologically, it represents Jerusalem (and by extension, Israel) in its original, pagan, and spiritually dead condition, devoid of any inherent merit or means to save itself, completely dependent on God's intervention. It underscores the depth of their spiritual uncleanness before God's grace, highlighting the desperate state from which only divine intervention could rescue them.

**Why is the command "Live!" repeated twice?**

Answer: The repetition of the divine command "Live!" (Hebrew: `châyâh`) serves to emphasize the absolute authority, power, and certainty of God's word. It is not a mere wish or suggestion, but a creative decree that brings forth life out of death. The doubling of the phrase highlights the miraculous nature of this act and underscores God's sovereign will and determination to give life to that which was destined for destruction. It's a powerful declaration of divine purpose and life-giving intervention, mirroring the creative power of God's word seen throughout Scripture, such as in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") where God speaks creation into being.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 16:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God found Israel in a state of utter defilement and spiritual death, unable to save herself, so too does humanity find itself spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, "polluted in its own blood" (cf. [Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in Sins")). The divine decree "Live!" spoken by God in Ezekiel's vision foreshadows the life-giving power of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God, is the one who speaks life into spiritual death, declaring to those who believe in Him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life" ([John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Hearing God's Word and Having Eternal Life")). He is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), whose shed blood cleanses us from all defilement, transforming us from a state of spiritual death to new life in Him ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus")). Through Christ, the divine "Live!" becomes a reality for all who are "born again" ([John 3:3](/john/3-3 "John 3:3 - Being Born Again")), receiving new life not by their own merit, but by the sovereign, unmerited grace of God, culminating in the promise of eternal life for all who believe.

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

Ephesians 2:4

¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Ephesians 2:5

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

Titus 3:7

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

John 5:25

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Acts 7:34

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

Matthew 5:13

¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.