Ezekiel 16:61

Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

Then thou shalt remember {H2142} thy ways {H1870}, and be ashamed {H3637}, when thou shalt receive {H3947} thy sisters {H269}, thine elder {H1419} and thy younger {H6996}: and I will give {H5414} them unto thee for daughters {H1323}, but not by thy covenant {H1285}.

Then you will remember your behavior and be ashamed of it as you receive your older and younger sisters and make them your daughters, even though the covenant with you does not cover that;

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.

Then shalt thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder sisters and thy younger; and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 16:61 (KJV)

Ezekiel 16:61 is a pivotal verse within a powerful and extended allegory in which God confronts Jerusalem (representing Israel) for her profound unfaithfulness, likening her to an abandoned infant rescued by God, who then grows up to become a harlot committing spiritual adultery with surrounding nations and idols. Despite this deep betrayal, God promises a future restoration that hinges on His grace, not Israel's merit.

Context

Chapter 16 of Ezekiel vividly details Jerusalem's origins, God's lavish care for her, and her subsequent egregious sins of idolatry and alliances, which are portrayed as spiritual prostitution. God declares judgment upon her for breaking her covenant. However, in a surprising turn, verses 53-63 speak of a future restoration, not only for Jerusalem but also for her "sisters" – Samaria (representing the northern kingdom of Israel) and Sodom (representing the sinful Gentile nations). This inclusion serves to highlight Jerusalem's even greater guilt, as she was more corrupt than even Sodom. Verse 61 specifically looks forward to a time when Jerusalem will be humbled and receive these previously despised "sisters" in a new, divinely orchestrated relationship.

Key Themes

  • Remembering and Shame: The verse declares that Jerusalem will "remember thy ways, and be ashamed." This is not merely a recollection of past sins but a deep, convicting realization of their enormity, leading to profound humility and repentance. This shame is a necessary step towards genuine transformation and appreciating God's subsequent grace.
  • Receiving "Sisters" (Sodom and Samaria): The idea of Jerusalem receiving Sodom and Samaria as "daughters" is highly significant. Historically, Jerusalem viewed herself as superior to both the pagan Sodom and the apostate Samaria. This prophecy indicates a radical reversal where Jerusalem is humbled to the point of acknowledging and embracing those she once disdained, under God's new arrangement. This points to a broad, inclusive future restoration by God.
  • Divine Initiative and a New Covenant: The phrase "and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant" is crucial. It underscores that this future blessing and familial relationship is entirely God's doing ("I will give them"). It is explicitly stated that this new arrangement is "not by thy covenant," meaning it is not based on the old Mosaic Covenant, which Israel had repeatedly broken through her unfaithfulness. Instead, it foreshadows a new, gracious divine agreement. This points directly to the promise of the new covenant, where God's promises are fulfilled not through human obedience but through His sovereign grace and power.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "not by thy covenant" is lo mibberitek (לֹא ΧžΦ΄Χ‘Φ°ΦΌΧ¨Φ΄Χ™Χͺ֡ךְ). The word berit (covenant) refers to the solemn agreement God made with Israel, outlining blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The emphasis here is that the coming restoration and the new relationship with the "sisters" will not be a continuation or renewal of the broken old covenant based on Israel's performance, but rather a fresh, unmerited act of God's grace, initiating a new kind of relationship.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:61 offers profound insights for believers today:

  • Humility and Repentance: Like ancient Israel, we are called to remember our own "ways" – our sins, failures, and spiritual compromises – and to be genuinely ashamed. This humility is essential for experiencing God's grace and forgiveness.
  • God's Unfailing Grace: This verse powerfully demonstrates God's persistent love and commitment to His people, even in the face of their profound unfaithfulness. His restoration is not earned but freely given out of His divine character.
  • The New Covenant Reality: For Christians, this verse highlights the superiority and efficacy of the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God is not based on our perfect adherence to law, but on God's grace received through faith, offering a new heart and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
  • Inclusivity of God's Kingdom: The inclusion of Sodom and Samaria, once outcasts, as "daughters" under God's new arrangement, speaks to the expansive nature of God's redemption, welcoming all who come to Him through His grace, regardless of their past.
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Cross-References

  • Hebrews 8:13 (4 votes)

    In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

  • Galatians 4:26 (4 votes)

    But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

  • Galatians 4:31 (4 votes)

    So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

  • Ezekiel 20:43 (3 votes)

    And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

  • Ephesians 3:6 (3 votes)

    That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

  • Jeremiah 31:18 (3 votes)

    ΒΆ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.

  • Jeremiah 31:20 (3 votes)

    [Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.