Ezekiel 16:7

I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: [thy] breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou [wast] naked and bare.

I have caused {H5414} thee to multiply {H7233} as the bud {H6780} of the field {H7704}, and thou hast increased {H7235} and waxen great {H1431}, and thou art come {H935} to excellent {H5716} ornaments {H5716}: thy breasts {H7699} are fashioned {H3559}, and thine hair {H8181} is grown {H6779}, whereas thou wast naked {H5903} and bare {H6181}.

I will increase your numbers just like plants growing in the field." And you did increase, you developed, you reached puberty, your breasts appeared, and your hair grew long; but you were naked and exposed.

I made you thrive like a plant of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.

I caused thee to multiply as that which groweth in the field, and thou didst increase and wax great, and thou attainedst to excellent ornament; thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.

Ezekiel 16:7 continues the Lord's poignant allegory of Israel's origins, depicting His providential care for the nation from its helpless beginnings. This verse highlights the stage of physical growth and maturation that God brought about in the "foundling" nation, preparing her for the glorious adornment and covenant relationship that would follow.

Context

Chapter 16 of Ezekiel is a powerful and extended parable where God addresses Jerusalem (representing the nation of Israel) as an abandoned infant, left to die, whom He rescued, nurtured, and brought to maturity. The preceding verses, such as Ezekiel 16:4-6, vividly describe her desolate and unwashed state. Verse 7 details the Lord's active role in fostering her growth and development, bringing her out of that initial state of nakedness and vulnerability, making her ready for the next stage of His divine plan.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Nurturing: The verse emphasizes God's direct and active involvement in Israel's development. He "caused thee to multiply" and "increased and waxen great," demonstrating His meticulous care and power over life and growth. This speaks to God's deep commitment to His chosen people.
  • Growth and Maturation: From being "naked and bare," a symbol of utter helplessness and lack, God brought the nation to physical maturity, symbolized by "breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown." This signifies a transition from infancy to a state of readiness for adulthood and responsibility.
  • Preparation for Glory: The phrase "thou art come to excellent ornaments" foreshadows the lavish spiritual and material blessings God would bestow upon Israel, as detailed in subsequent verses like Ezekiel 16:10-14. This growth was not random but part of a divine purpose to make her glorious among the nations.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "bud of the field" (Hebrew: tsemah ha-sadeh) evokes imagery of natural, abundant, and vigorous growth, indicating that God's blessing facilitated a rapid and significant increase in population and strength for the nation.
  • "Waxen great" (Hebrew: gadalti) signifies not just growth in size but also in prominence and influence, reflecting the nation's rise under God's hand.
  • The detailed description of physical development ("breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown") uses vivid, anthropomorphic language to personify the nation's emergence from a state of infancy to one of maturity and beauty, ready for marriage (a metaphor for covenant in Ezekiel 16:8).

Related Scriptures

This depiction of God's care for a helpless people echoes themes found elsewhere in scripture, such as in Deuteronomy 32:10, where God is said to have found Israel in a "desert land" and nurtured them. The transformation from "naked and bare" to adorned and mature also prefigures the spiritual transformation God offers His people through the new creation in Christ, where believers are clothed in righteousness.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:7 offers profound insights into God's character and His relationship with humanity. It reminds us that:

  1. God's Providence is Personal: Just as God meticulously cared for Israel from infancy, He oversees the details of our lives, from our physical existence to our spiritual growth. We are not left "naked and bare" but are recipients of His constant care.
  2. Spiritual Growth is a Divine Work: Our spiritual maturation, like Israel's physical development, is ultimately enabled by God. He provides the environment and the means for us to "increase and wax great" in faith and character.
  3. Transformation from Vulnerability: Whatever our past state of helplessness or brokenness, God has the power to transform us, bringing us to a state of maturity, strength, and beauty in His eyes. This verse encourages us to trust in His ongoing work in our lives.
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.

  • Exodus 1:7

    And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

  • Deuteronomy 1:10

    The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye [are] this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

  • Isaiah 62:3

    Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

  • Ezekiel 16:10

    I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

  • Ezekiel 16:13

    Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

  • Ezekiel 16:22

    And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, [and] wast polluted in thy blood.

  • Ezekiel 16:16

    And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so].

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