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Ezekiel 16

63 verses

TL;DR

Ezekiel 16 presents a prophetic lament to Jerusalem, personified as a woman, warning of judgment for her idolatry and calling her to repentance, while promising a future covenant.

Summary

In Ezekiel 16 the prophet delivers a vivid rebuke to Jerusalem, depicted as a woman born of Canaanite parents, who is stripped of innocence and gradually adorned by the Lord, symbolizing Israel’s covenantal relationship. The narrative describes her growing wealth and beauty through the Lord’s favor, yet she becomes prideful, idolatrous, and unfaithful, engaging in “whoredoms” with foreign nations and sacrificing children. The Lord condemns her, declares that she will be stripped of her ornaments and punished by enemies, and warns of her eventual shame and loss of favor. Despite the harsh judgment, the chapter ends with a promise that the covenant will be renewed, Jerusalem will remember her past, and the Lord will restore peace and establish an everlasting covenant. This juxtaposition underscores the themes of sin, punishment, repentance, and redemption.

Outline
  1. 1. Jerusalem’s origin and adornment by the Lord; 2. Her turn to idolatry and the resulting judgment; 3. Promise of renewed covenant and restoration.
Themes
Judgment and repentanceCovenant fidelityThe dangers of idolatry
Keywords
idolatrycovenantsinrepentancejudgmentredemptionpridefaithfulnessIsraelJerusalemAbrahamic covenant
People
JerusalemSodomSamariaAssyriaEgyptPhilistinesChaldeaAmoriteHittiteLord God
Places
JerusalemSodomSamariaCanaanEgyptAssyriaChaldeaPhilistia
Things
oilwaterclothingornamentshigh placesidolsjewelscovenant
Key Verses
  • Ezekiel 16:1: Introduces the prophetic message and the metaphor of Jerusalem as a woman born of Canaanite parents.
  • Ezekiel 16:20-21: Highlights the extreme sin of child sacrifice, intensifying the judgment theme.
Questions
  • What does Jerusalem’s transformation from naked to adorned reveal about God’s relationship with Israel?
  • How does the use of marriage imagery deepen the prophetic message?
  • In what ways does the chapter’s promise of renewed covenant offer hope amid judgment?
  • What can modern readers learn about the consequences of turning away from God’s law?
  • How does Ezekiel 16 compare to other prophetic warnings of idolatry in the Hebrew Bible?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter blends harsh condemnation of sin with a hopeful promise of covenant renewal.