Ezekiel 16:6

¶ 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.

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}.

"'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!

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!’

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.

Ezekiel 16:6 (KJV) offers a powerful and vivid image of God's profound grace and sovereign intervention. This verse is part of a lengthy allegory where God describes Jerusalem (representing Israel) as an abandoned, newborn infant, left to die in its own filth, whom He found, nurtured, and raised.

Context of Ezekiel 16:6

Chapter 16 of Ezekiel is a dramatic prophetic parable detailing the history of Jerusalem, from its humble, defiled beginnings to its eventual unfaithfulness and judgment. Verse 6 marks the pivotal moment of God's initial encounter and compassionate act towards the helpless infant. Before God's intervention, Israel was likened to a child of pagan origins, devoid of any inherent merit or claim to God's favor. This imagery underscores the depth of Israel's spiritual pollution and utter dependence on divine mercy, a state often referred to as being "polluted in thine own blood," signifying extreme vulnerability and uncleanness, like an unwashed newborn.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Sovereign Grace: The most striking theme is God's unmerited favor. He "passed by" and saw the infant's desperate state, then unilaterally declared, "Live!" This act was not in response to any worthiness but stemmed purely from His divine compassion and initiative, echoing principles of God's choice found in Deuteronomy 7:7.
  • Life-Giving Word: The repetition of "I said unto thee... Live" emphasizes the inherent power of God's spoken word. It's a divine decree that brings existence and vitality where there was none. This reflects the creative power of God's word, as seen in Genesis 1:3 and its life-giving capacity for salvation.
  • Human Helplessness: The imagery of being "polluted in thine own blood" starkly portrays humanity's fallen condition without God's intervention – a state of spiritual death and defilement that cannot rescue itself.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "blood" (דָּם - dam) is repeated emphatically, underscoring the raw, unwashed, and utterly helpless state of the newborn. The divine command "Live" comes from the Hebrew verb חָיָה (chayah), a powerful imperative that means "to live," "to revive," or "to be preserved alive." Its repetition reinforces the divine authority and the miraculous nature of this life-giving decree, bringing life out of what was essentially a death sentence.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:6 serves as a profound metaphor for God's saving grace towards humanity. Just as Israel was found in a state of utter defilement and helplessness, so too are all people spiritually dead in their sins before God's intervention (Ephesians 2:1). This verse reminds us that salvation is not earned but is a direct, compassionate act of God's will and power. It highlights that our spiritual life begins with God's initiative, His declaration of "Live," transforming us from a state of spiritual death and pollution into new life. It encourages believers to appreciate the depth of God's mercy and non-believers to recognize their need for His life-giving word.

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.

  • 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.

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