Ezekiel 16:12 kjv
And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Ezekiel 16:12 nkjv
And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
Ezekiel 16:12 niv
and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
Ezekiel 16:12 esv
And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
Ezekiel 16:12 nlt
a ring for your nose, earrings for your ears, and a lovely crown for your head.
Ezekiel 16 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 29:6 | And you shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown... | God bestows a priestly diadem of consecration. |
| Psa 21:3 | For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon... | God crowns His chosen with blessings and honor. |
| Isa 60:7 | ...and I will beautify the house of My glory. | God promises to beautify His dwelling/people. |
| Isa 61:10 | ...for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered... | God provides garments of righteousness and beauty. |
| Prov 4:9 | She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you... | Wisdom bestows a crown of beauty and honor. |
| Psa 103:4 | Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love... | God's lovingkindness as a crown. |
| Hos 2:19-20 | And I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in... | God betrothing Israel, emphasizing covenant love. |
| Jer 2:2 | I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride... | Israel described as a bride to God. |
| Isa 54:5 | For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name... | God as the husband of Israel. |
| Song 3:11 | Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown... | A crown as a symbol of royal festivity/marriage. |
| Gen 24:22 | ...a golden nose-ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for... | Example of bridal adornments for Rebekah. |
| Esth 2:17 | The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she won... | Example of a woman receiving a royal crown. |
| Lam 2:15 | All who pass along the way clap their hands at you... | Loss of Judah's adornments due to sin (opposite). |
| Rev 19:7-8 | Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage... | The Bride (Church) adorned for the Marriage of the Lamb. |
| Rev 21:2 | And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven... | The New Jerusalem adorned as a bride. |
| Eph 5:27 | ...that he might present the church to himself in splendor... | The Church adorned by Christ. |
| 1 Pet 5:4 | And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown... | Believers receiving a crown of glory. |
| Isa 62:3 | You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal... | God seeing His people as a beautiful crown. |
| Zeph 3:17 | The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he... | God's delight and joy over His people. |
| Zech 9:16 | On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his... | God's people as precious jewels in His land. |
| Luke 15:22 | But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe... | Restoration and adornment in the parable of the prodigal son. |
| Eze 16:17 | You took your beautiful jewels of My gold and of My silver, which I... | Highlights that Israel used God's gifts for idolatry. |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 12 Meaning
Ezekiel 16:12 portrays God's lavish care and transformational grace bestowed upon Jerusalem (representing Israel). From a state of utter destitution and abandonment, God elevates His chosen people to a position of unparalleled beauty, honor, and royal splendor. This verse, through symbolic adornments, signifies God's covenant love, His deliberate act of consecration, and His desire to establish Israel as a glorious entity, akin to adorning a beloved bride for a royal wedding.
Ezekiel 16 12 Context
Ezekiel chapter 16 is an extended allegory illustrating God's covenant relationship with Jerusalem, personified as an abandoned infant girl. This girl, representing the city's Canaanite origins, was found destitute, unwashed, and discarded. God rescued her, cleaned her, and watched her grow. Verse 12 is part of a series of verses (Eze 16:10-14) detailing the magnificent adornments God bestowed upon her. These gifts symbolize the spiritual, physical, and political blessings, wealth, and status that God generously provided for Israel, transforming her from a helpless outcast into a queen. This opulent adorning sets the stage for the chapter's central theme: Jerusalem's profound unfaithfulness, as she later used these very gifts, given by God, to commit spiritual prostitution with pagan nations and idols. Historically, it reflects the period when God elevated Israel from slavery in Egypt and through the wilderness into a glorious kingdom in the promised land, blessing them extensively.
Ezekiel 16 12 Word analysis
- And I put: Hebrew wa-ʾettēn (וָאֶתֵּן). Emphasizes God's personal, deliberate, and sovereign action. He is the active giver and source of all the blessings and adornments, highlighting His initiative and lavish grace.
- a jewel: Hebrew nezer (נזר). This word often refers to a "crown," "diadem," or "consecration." It can denote royalty (2 Sam 1:10), a specific headpiece for a king, or a high priest's golden plate signifying consecration (Ex 29:6). In this context, placed on the forehead, it conveys both a prominent adornment of high value and potentially a symbol of dedicated status or regal honor, separating her for God.
- on thy forehead: Hebrew ʿal mittzeḥekh (עַל־מִצְחֵךְ). The forehead is a highly visible location, symbolizing public recognition, honor, and identity. In ancient cultures, it was sometimes used for branding (slave) or distinct marking (priest). Here, it implies a mark of beauty, dignity, and distinction given by God.
- and earrings: Hebrew u-nezāmîm (וּנְזָמִים). Nezem (נזם) refers to rings, either for the nose or ears. These were common and highly valued items of personal adornment in the ancient Near East, symbolizing beauty, wealth, and social status. They signify a transition from destitution to a cherished position.
- in thine ears: Hebrew beʾoznayikh (בְּאָזְנַיִךְ). The customary placement for earrings, completing the picture of rich personal adornment.
- and a beautiful crown: Hebrew wa-ʿaṭereth tiphʾareth (וַעֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאָרֶת). ʿAṭarah is a crown, generally indicating royalty or honor (Pro 4:9, 2 Sam 12:30). Tiphʾeret means "beauty," "glory," "splendor," or "majesty." Together, it signifies a crown of majestic beauty or glorious splendor, elevating her to queenly status.
- upon thine head: Hebrew ʿal roʾshekh (עַל־רֹאשֵׁךְ). The head is the highest and most prominent part of the body, making a crown placed there a definitive sign of royalty, honor, and authority.
- "I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head": This phrase, as a whole, meticulously details the divine transformation and elevation of the personified Jerusalem. It moves from one prominent feature to another – forehead, ears, head – demonstrating a comprehensive bestowing of regal splendor and highly prized adornments. Each item signifies God's intention to beautify, dignify, and consecrate Israel, moving her from utter disgrace to glorious majesty. This systematic adornment symbolizes the complete favor and grace God poured out upon His chosen people.
Ezekiel 16 12 Bonus section
The type of "jewel" (nezer) placed on the forehead, typically translated as a crown or diadem, might also evoke the tsits or "holy crown" worn by the High Priest (Ex 28:36), further hinting at a sanctified, consecrated status for Israel. This would mean that beyond being made beautiful and royal, Israel was also uniquely set apart and holy unto the Lord. The transition from the helpless baby in Eze 16:6-7, smeared in blood and discarded, to the lavishly adorned figure of verse 12 is one of the most striking transformations in prophetic literature, emphasizing God's unmatched grace. This imagery also deeply resonates with the concept of the Church as the "bride of Christ," made beautiful and spotless by Him for eternal union (Eph 5:27, Rev 21:2).
Ezekiel 16 12 Commentary
Ezekiel 16:12 eloquently depicts God's benevolent and transformative love for His people. It is a vital part of the chapter's powerful allegory, illustrating how God rescued, elevated, and magnificently adorned Israel, transforming them from an abandoned, disgraceful state to one of immense beauty, honor, and queenly status. Each item of jewelry—the jewel/diadem on the forehead, the earrings, and the glorious crown—symbolically represents the profound blessings, wealth, dignity, and covenant status bestowed by God. These were not just material gifts but indicators of divine favor, unique identity, and God's desire for His people to reflect His glory. This elaborate adornment underscored the depth of God's commitment and love, setting a poignant backdrop for the narrative of Israel's subsequent ingratitude and spiritual unfaithfulness that permeates the rest of the chapter.