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Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:59

The Covenant Remembered · Ezekiel 16:59–63
Read Ezekiel 16

Translations

Modern
For this is what the Lord GOD says: I will deal with you according to your deeds, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.
Traditional
For thus saith the Lord God; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.
Literal
For thus says the Lord YHWH: I will do with you as you have done—those having despised the oath by breaking the covenant.
Latin
Quia hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Et faciam tibi sicut despexisti juramentum, ut irritum faceres pactum:

Original

Hebrew
English
For this is what the Lord GOD says: I will deal with you according to your deeds, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

Notes

Ezekiel 16:59–63

Jerusalem's sins were serious and required judgment. But judgment was not God's final word on Jerusalem. She had broken God's covenant in many ways. Because of this, she deserved the penalty of death.

But judgment was not God’s final word. The Lord would remember the covenant he made with her at the beginning. His plans for his people could not be stopped, even by their sin. His covenant commitment lasts forever (Psalm 136).

In the end, God would forgive her sins. His forgiveness would lead Jerusalem to repentance.

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

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Adultery Bride of Christ Ezekiel, Book of Hell Sexual Immorality

Topics

Covenant of God with Men: Broken by the Jews Falsehood: Zedekiah, in Violating his Oath of Allegiance to Nebuchadnezzer Judgment: According to Opportunity and Works Lasciviousness: Figurative Punishment: According to Deeds Swearing Falsely: Jews The Jews: National Character of Unfaithful to Covenant Engagements