Keraia
Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:44

Judgment on Jerusalem · Ezekiel 16:35–58
Read Ezekiel 16

Translations

Modern
Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’
Traditional
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Literal
Behold everyone quoting proverbs will use this proverb against you, saying, ‘Like her mother is her daughter.’
Latin
Ecce omnis qui dicit vulgo proverbium, in te assumet illud, dicens: Sicut mater, ita et filia ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’

Notes

Ezekiel 16:44–45

Jerusalem’s “parents” were a Hittite and an Amorite. Hittites and Amorites were previous occupants of Canaan who were cut off from the land because of their sins (compare Genesis 15:16). The pagan city of Jerusalem was captured and became part of Israel during David's time (2 Samuel 5:6–10). Jerusalem’s later actions matched her family background. She behaved in a way that fit her heredity (family line and ancestry).

In other words, her conduct was consistent with where she came from. Her actions reflected the character of her origins.

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 Bride of Christ Ezekiel, Book of Hittites Sexual Immorality

Topics

Daughters Lasciviousness: Figurative Mothers and Daughters Parents: Curses Entailed Proverbs: Miscellany of