Keraia
Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:13

Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness · Ezekiel 16:1–34
Read Ezekiel 16

Translations

Modern
So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered cloth. Fine flour and honey and oil did you eat. You were exceedingly greatly beautiful, and you advanced to royalty.
Latin
Et ornata es auro et argento, et vestita es bysso et polymito et multicoloribus: similam, et mel, et oleum comedisti: et decora facta es vehementer nimis, et profecisti in regnum.

Original

Hebrew
English
So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen.

Notes

Ezekiel 16:11–14

She wore jewelry and ate the finest foods. She was known throughout the world for her beauty and splendor, which were gifts from the Lord.

Ezekiel 16:1–63

In Ezekiel 16, Jerusalem is described as an unfaithful wife and a prostitute. This language is very strong. Even in English, the chapter can be difficult to read. In its ancient setting, it would have sounded even more shocking.

Ezekiel used graphic language to show how serious Judah’s sin was. He did not try to make his message softer or more polite. He spoke in a direct and forceful way.

This strong language is the main point of the chapter. Ezekiel wanted the people to feel how terrible their sin was in God’s sight. The shocking description helped them understand that God’s judgment was not unfair.

If Ezekiel had used softer words, the people might not have understood the full seriousness of their sin. The strong picture was necessary to show why God’s judgment was justified (that is, right and fair).

Ezekiel 15:1–24:14

This section includes eight metaphors, each showing from a different angle the certainty of Jerusalem's upcoming judgment. The images are of:

  1. a worthless vine (Ezekiel 15);

  2. a faithless wife (Ezekiel 16);

  3. a vine and two eagles (Ezekiel 17);

  4. Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18);

  5. a lion and her cubs (Ezekiel 19);

  6. a sword (Ezekiel 21);

  7. two corrupt sisters (Ezekiel 23); and

  8. a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24).

Events

Glossary

Adultery Beauty Bride of Christ Ezekiel, Book of Food and Food Preparation Hittites Marriage, Marriage Customs Sexual Immorality Silk

Topics

Bride: Figurative Bridegroom: Figurative Embroidery: On the Garments of Women Food: Articles of Oil God: Love of, Exemplified Honey was Eaten: Mixed with Flour Ingratitude to God: Illustrated Jewels: Tokens of Love Linen: Garments for Women Made of Oil used for Food Silk: Wearing Apparel Made of The Diet of the Jews: Articles Used for Oil