Ezekiel 16:9-63

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:6-14

In there verses we have an account of the great things which God did for the Jewish nation in raising them up by degrees to be very considerable. 1. God saved them from the ruin they were upon the brink of in Egypt (Ezek. 16:6): ?When I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thy own blood, loathed and abandoned, and appointed to die, as sheep for the slaughter, then I said unto thee, Live. I designed thee for life when thou wast doomed to destruction, and resolved to save thee from death.?... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:15-34

In these verses we have an account of the great wickedness of the people of Israel, especially in worshipping idols, notwithstanding the great favours that God had conferred upon them, by which, one would think, they should have been for ever engaged to him. This wickedness of theirs is here represented by the lewd and scandalous conversation of that beautiful maid which was rescued from ruin, brought up and well provided for by a kind friend and benefactor, that had been in all respects as a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:35-43

Adultery was by the law of Moses made a capital crime. This notorious adulteress, the criminal at the bar, being in the foregoing verses found guilty, here has sentence passed upon her. It is ushered in with solemnity, Ezek. 16:35. The prophet, as the judge, in God's name calls to her, O harlot! hear the word of the Lord. Our Saviour preached to harlots, for their conversion, to bring them into the kingdom of God, not as the prophet here, to expel them out of it. Note, An apostate church is a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:44-59

The prophet here further shows Jerusalem her abominations, by comparing her with those places that had gone before her, and showing that she was worse than any of them, and therefore should, like them, be utterly and irreparably ruined. We are all apt to judge of ourselves by comparison, and to imagine that we are sufficiently good if we are but as good as such and such, who are thought passable; or that we are not dangerously bad if we are no worse than such and such, who, though bad, are not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:60-63

Here, in the close of the chapter, after a most shameful conviction of sin and a most dreadful denunciation of judgments, mercy is remembered, mercy is reserved, for those who shall come after. As was when God swore in his wrath concerning those who came out of Egypt that they should not enter Canaan, ?Yet? (says God) ?your little ones shall;? so here. And some think that what is said of the return of Sodom and Samaria (Ezek. 16:53, 55), and of Jerusalem with them, is a promise; it may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:9

Then washed I thee with water ,.... Brought the Israelites out of the mean, abject, servile, and sordid state in which they were, when among the mortar, bricks, and pots, into a state of liberty; so the Targum, "and I redeemed you from the servitude of the Egyptians; and I removed the strength of dominion from you, and brought you into liberty;' perhaps some reference may be had to the ceremonial ablutions enjoined them; they were washed before the covenant was made with them at Mount... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:10

I clothed thee also, with broidered work ,.... Or, "with needle work" F17 רקמה "veste acupicta", Vatablus, Grotius; "acupicto", Montanus, Cocceius, Starckius. ; with garments of divers colours, like Joseph's coat; perhaps it may refer to the rich raiment borrowed of the Egyptians, when they came out from thence. So the Targum, "and I clothed you with various garments, the desirable things of your enemies;' and which, with their other clothes, waxed not old all the while they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:11

And I decked thee also with ornaments ,.... The Targum interprets this of the ornament of the words of the law; see Proverbs 1:8 ; but may be as well understood of good works done in obedience to them, from a right principle, and to right ends; which adorn professors of religion, their profession, and the doctrines of Christ, which they profess, 1 Timothy 2:9 ; or rather the graces of the Spirit, which are all of them very ornamental to the saints, as faith, hope, love, humility,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:12

And I put a jewel on thy forehead ,.... The same with the nose jewel, which was hung upon the forehead, and reached down to the nose and mouth; and, however disagreeable it may seem to us, was reckoned very ornamental in the eastern countries, Isaiah 3:21 ; and where now, as in Persia, as well as in all the Levant, the women put rings through their noses, which they pierce with needles, as Monsieur Thevenot F26 Travels, par. 2. B. 2. c. 9. p. 94. relates; so Dr. Shaw F1 Travels,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:13

Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver ,.... The Targum interprets it of the tabernacle adorned with gold and silver, and linen curtains, of various dies and colours; but it refers to the ornaments, bracelets, chain, earrings, and crown before, mentioned; see Psalm 45:9 ; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work ; See Gill on Ezekiel 16:10 ; with this compare Revelation 19:8 ; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil ; which did not a little... read more

Group of Brands