Ezekiel 16:8

Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

Now when I passed {H5674} by thee, and looked {H7200} upon thee, behold, thy time {H6256} was the time {H6256} of love {H1730}; and I spread {H6566} my skirt {H3671} over thee, and covered {H3680} thy nakedness {H6172}: yea, I sware {H7650} unto thee, and entered {H935} into a covenant {H1285} with thee, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, and thou becamest mine.

"'Again I passed by you, looked at you and saw that your time had come, the time for love. So I spread my cloak over you to cover your private parts and entered into a covenant with you,' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'and you became mine.

Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.

Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Jehovah, and thou becamest mine.

Commentary

Ezekiel 16 is a powerful and extended allegory, where God portrays the city of Jerusalem (representing Israel) as an abandoned infant girl whom He finds, cares for, raises, and enters into a covenant with, only for her to later betray Him through idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. Verse 8 marks the pivotal moment of God's gracious intervention and the establishment of His relationship with His chosen people.

Context

This verse is the turning point in the allegory, describing God's initial act of compassion and commitment towards Israel. Having depicted Israel as a newborn left to die, God recounts how He "passed by" and saw her desperate state. This vivid imagery likely harks back to Israel's humble beginnings in Egypt, oppressed and without hope, before God delivered them through the Exodus. The subsequent actions in the verse describe the formation of the covenant at Mount Sinai, where God formally adopted Israel as His own nation, setting them apart from all other peoples.

Key Themes

  • Divine Initiative and Compassion: The verse powerfully illustrates God's unmerited love and active intervention. He initiates the relationship, not because Israel deserved it, but out of His profound pity and steadfast love. This highlights God's character as a compassionate rescuer who seeks out the helpless.
  • Covenant Relationship: The core of the verse is the establishment of a solemn covenant between God and Israel. God's actions—spreading His skirt, covering nakedness, swearing an oath—are all symbolic of a binding agreement, akin to a marriage proposal and commitment. Israel, once an outcast, becomes God's beloved spouse, highlighting the intimate nature of the relationship.
  • Ownership and Belonging: The declaration "and thou becamest mine" signifies Israel's transformation from a desolate orphan to God's cherished possession. This concept of belonging is central to their identity as God's peculiar treasure, chosen out of all nations. It speaks to God's protective care and His claim over His people.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Thy time [was] the time of love": The Hebrew phrase 'et 'ahavah (עֵת אַהֲבָה) signifies a designated, opportune moment for love or affectionate interaction. It implies that God's intervention was perfectly timed, a moment of divine favor and grace when Israel was most vulnerable and in need.
  • "I spread my skirt over thee": This is a significant cultural and symbolic act in ancient Near Eastern contexts, particularly in marriage customs. As seen in Ruth 3:9, spreading one's cloak or skirt over another person was a gesture of protection, taking possession, and a proposal of marriage, signifying a commitment to care for and provide for the person.
  • "Covered thy nakedness": Beyond literal nakedness, this implies providing dignity, security, and honor where there was shame and vulnerability. It speaks to God's provision and restoration of a lost identity.
  • "I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant": This emphasizes the solemnity and unbreakable nature of God's commitment. A covenant, especially one sworn by God, was a binding oath, establishing a legal and spiritual bond that God Himself would uphold.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:8 offers profound insights for believers today. It underscores the truth that our relationship with God is founded on His initiative and His unconditional love, not on our merit. Just as God found Israel in her helpless state and brought her into a covenant of love, He extends His grace to us, rescuing us from spiritual destitution and drawing us into a personal relationship through faith in Christ. This verse reminds us of God's faithfulness to His promises and the depth of His commitment to those He calls His own. It encourages us to live in gratitude for His redemptive love and to remember that we are truly bought with a price and belong to Him, called to walk in a covenant of love and obedience.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 2:2

    Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land [that was] not sown.

  • Jeremiah 2:3

    Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

  • Ruth 3:9

    And he said, Who [art] thou? And she answered, I [am] Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou [art] a near kinsman.

  • Romans 5:8

    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

  • Isaiah 43:4

    Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

  • Hosea 11:1

    ¶ When Israel [was] a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

  • Exodus 32:13

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever.