Ezekiel 16 14

Ezekiel 16:14 kjv

And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 16:14 nkjv

Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 16:14 niv

And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 16:14 esv

And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 16:14 nlt

Your fame soon spread throughout the world because of your beauty. I dressed you in my splendor and perfected your beauty, says the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 14 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:14 encapsulates Jerusalem's widespread and unparalleled fame for beauty among the nations. This exquisite beauty was not an intrinsic quality but was made perfect and flawless solely by the magnificent splendor graciously bestowed upon her by the Lord GOD. The verse establishes God as the exclusive source of Jerusalem's admired glory and elevated status, highlighting His abundant provision and favor.

Ezekiel 16 14 Context

Ezekiel chapter 16 presents a vivid and extensive allegory of Jerusalem (personified as an abandoned infant girl) and God's relationship with her. In verses 1-7, God describes finding Jerusalem as a cast-out, naked, and blood-covered newborn whom no one cared for. He rescued her and sustained her life. Then, in verses 8-13, God entered into a covenant with her (symbolized as marriage), washed her clean, anointed her with oil, clothed her in costly embroidered cloth, leather sandals, fine linen, and silk. He adorned her with rich jewelry: bracelets, a necklace, a ring, and a beautiful crown. He fed her with fine flour, honey, and oil, causing her to grow exceedingly beautiful and fit for royalty. Verse 14 culminates this initial stage, declaring that all the renown and beauty she acquired was entirely due to God's divine provision and splendor. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, completing the description of her initial exalted state, before the devastating betrayal and harlotry that are meticulously detailed in the subsequent verses (15-59). The historical-cultural context for the original audience understood the value of adornment as signifying status, wealth, and beauty, particularly for a bride or queen. God’s emphasis on "My splendor" (בַּהֲדָרִי, ba-hadari) served as a direct polemic against any notion that Jerusalem's prosperity or fame was due to its own strategic location, inherent strength, or the favor of foreign gods.

Ezekiel 16 14 Word analysis

• And your renown (וַיֵּצֵא שֵׁם) - Renown (שֵׁם, shem) refers to one's name, reputation, or fame. It signifies recognition and admiration gained. Here, it denotes Jerusalem's highly regarded standing and widespread reputation, achieved through God's work.
• went forth (יָצָא, yatza) - A dynamic verb indicating outward movement or spread. It suggests Jerusalem’s fame wasn’t confined but actively disseminated, making her known across vast distances.
• among the nations (בַּגֹּויִם, ba-goyim) - The word goyim (גֹּויִם) means "gentiles" or "peoples/nations." This phrase underscores the global scope of Jerusalem’s fame, positioning her uniquely among the non-covenant world.
• because of your beauty (מִיָפְיֵךְ, miyofyik) - Beauty (יָפְיִיךְ, yofyiḵ) here refers to her complete attractiveness, encompassing both physical splendor from her adornments and her overall prosperity and prestigious position. This was the outward manifestation that drew the eyes of others.
• for it was perfect (כָּלִיל הוּא, kalil hu) - Perfect (כָּלִיל, kalil) means complete, whole, flawless, lacking nothing. It describes a consummate, ideal beauty. This perfection signifies her peak, unblemished glory, ensuring its compelling attraction.
• through My splendor (בַּהֲדָרִי, ba-hadari) - The crucial causal element. Splendor (הָדָר, hadar) denotes majesty, glory, ornamentation, or honor. The possessive "My" explicitly attributes the origin of this splendor to God Himself, emphasizing His divine, glorious nature as the direct source of Jerusalem's adornment.
• which I had bestowed on you (אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי עָלָיִךְ, asher natattī alayikh) - "Bestowed" (נָתַתִּי, natattī) is an active verb, meaning "I gave." This phrase highlights God’s deliberate and generous act of giving. "Upon you" (alayikh) emphasizes that it was an external gift, placed upon her, not an intrinsic quality she possessed.
• declares the Lord GOD (נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, neum Adonai YHVH) - A formal, authoritative divine utterance. This concluding formula gives weight and irrefutable certainty to the entire statement, sealing it as truth directly from God, the sovereign authority.

Words-group analysis

• "And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty": This phrase establishes the external admiration and fame Jerusalem enjoyed globally. It underscores that her attractiveness was so potent it captured the attention and awe of surrounding nations. This was God's intention—for His work in her to be observed.
• "for it was perfect through My splendor": This explanatory clause directly connects Jerusalem's flawless beauty to God's own majesty. It reveals the divine source, rejecting any claim of self-attained perfection. Her attractiveness was a direct reflection and manifestation of God's inherent glory.
• "which I had bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD": This segment emphatically confirms God's agency and generosity. It asserts that every aspect of her glory was a gift from Him. The divine declaration authenticates the truth that her splendor was entirely derived from the sovereign Lord, setting up the profound tragedy of her later ingratitude.

Ezekiel 16 14 Bonus section

The term splendor (הָדָר, hadar) used in this verse has rich theological connotations. It is often associated with the majesty of God Himself, divine honor, or glorious raiment. By stating "My splendor," God is essentially saying that Jerusalem's beauty was an outward display of His own glorious character and presence made manifest in her. This bestowed splendor was not merely superficial adornment but signified the covenant relationship and God's intention for Jerusalem to be a light and testament to Him among the nations. The irony is poignant: God gave her His splendor, yet she would later attribute her subsequent wealth and allure to foreign idols and her own prowess, debasing the divine gift. This verse thus prefigures the later theological condemnation, highlighting the ultimate source of all blessings before revealing the depth of human (Israel's) ingratitude and spiritual prostitution. It's a reminder that true, lasting glory and honor only come from and point back to God.

Ezekiel 16 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:14 succinctly closes the descriptive narrative of Jerusalem’s initial glory under God’s care. It profoundly underscores that Jerusalem's famed beauty and elevated status among the nations were neither accidental nor self-achieved. Every fiber of her perfection, every spark of her renown, radiated from the splendor God Himself actively and gratuitously bestowed upon her. This verse is a testament to God's immense grace, transforming a derelict orphan into a queen, all to showcase His own majestic power and love. Her beauty was thus a reflected glory, a borrowed light, directly dependent on her divine benefactor. This serves as a vital foundation for the tragic unfolding of the chapter, where Jerusalem forgets this divine source and takes credit for, and abuses, the very blessings given by God.