Ezekiel 16:44 kjv
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Ezekiel 16:44 nkjv
"Indeed everyone who quotes proverbs will use this proverb against you: 'Like mother, like daughter!'
Ezekiel 16:44 niv
"?'Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: "Like mother, like daughter."
Ezekiel 16:44 esv
"Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: 'Like mother, like daughter.'
Ezekiel 16:44 nlt
Everyone who makes up proverbs will say of you, 'Like mother, like daughter.'
Ezekiel 16 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 16:44 | Indeed, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: | Echoes condemnation |
| Leviticus 18:7 | "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father or your father's wife... | Parental disrespect prohibited |
| Leviticus 20:11 | If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness... | Incestuous acts punishable |
| Proverbs 20:20 | Curse of his father or his mother shall be put out in deepest darkness. | Consequences of dishonoring parents |
| Proverbs 23:22 | Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. | Honor parents |
| Isaiah 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... | Moral confusion |
| Jeremiah 15:4 | I will cause them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth... | Scattering as punishment |
| Micah 2:12 | "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel... | Future restoration |
| Matthew 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. | Jesus and the Law |
| Romans 2:1 | You therefore have no excuse, every one of you who pass judgment. | Hypocrisy condemned |
| Galatians 3:10 | For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse... | Curse of the law |
| Revelation 18:7 | Give her the return she deserves, double what she has done... | Retribution for sin |
| Judges 1:7 | "As I have done, so God has done to me," for they brought their captives to King Adoni-Bezek at Jerusalem... | Reciprocal judgment |
| Lamentations 5:18 | For Mount Zion which lies desolate; foxes prowl over it. | Desolation of Jerusalem |
| Ezekiel 22:15 | I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you among the countries... | Punishment by scattering |
| Ezekiel 23:45 | And the righteous shall pass sentence upon them, a sentence of adultery and of bloodshed... | Judgment on adulterous cities |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... | Lack of knowledge leads to ruin |
| Psalm 7:16 | His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will come down on his own pate. | Consequences of injustice |
| John 8:32 | Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. | Truth leads to freedom |
| 1 Corinthians 3:17 | If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you, together, are that temple. | God's people as a temple |
| Revelation 20:12 | And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne... | Judgment of the dead |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 44 Meaning
This verse states that anyone who speaks reproachfully about their mother, like the people of Israel did about Jerusalem (their mother city), will receive the punishment due to them. It emphasizes accountability for dishonoring one's origins and bringing shame upon them.
Ezekiel 16 44 Context
Ezekiel 16 is a lengthy allegory where the prophet describes Jerusalem as an abandoned, then-adopted, and ultimately unfaithful wife to God. The chapter details Jerusalem's descent from innocence to corruption, comparing her whoredoms to the practices of surrounding nations. Verse 44 specifically introduces a proverb that will be said about Jerusalem, highlighting her culpability and the universal condemnation she will face due to her profound sinfulness, especially her spiritual infidelity. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period where Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed, and the people of Judah were scattered.
Ezekiel 16 44 Word Analysis
“Indeed”: (כִּ֣י / ki) - A common Hebrew particle often translated as "indeed," "for," "surely," or "because." Here, it emphasizes the truth or certainty of the following statement, lending it authority.
“everyone”: (כֹּ֣ל) / kol - "All," "every." Underscores the comprehensive nature of the proverb's application to Jerusalem.
“who quotes proverbs”: (מַשָּׁ֠ל / mashal) - Means "proverb," "parable," or "saying." It implies that Jerusalem’s actions will become so infamous they will be the subject of common, cautionary sayings.
“will quote”: (יִשְׂאוּ / yisa’u) - Literally "lift" or "carry," used here in the sense of "recite" or "utter." The future tense indicates a certainty of this outcome.
“this proverb”: (מְשָׁל / meshal) - Specifically referring to the proverb that follows, though the proverb itself isn't quoted in this verse, but implied to be about Jerusalem's character.
“about you”: (עָלַ֗יִךְ / alayikh) - A feminine singular pronoun referring directly to Jerusalem.
Group of words: “everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you”: This phrase succinctly conveys the idea that Jerusalem’s notorious sinfulness will lead to her being a byword. Her repute will be so thoroughly negative that common sayings will arise describing her wicked character. This points to the depth of her apostasy and the comprehensive nature of the judgment she faces.
Ezekiel 16 44 Bonus Section
This verse reflects a prophetic utterance designed to resonate with the people of Israel in exile. They would understand the weight of a proverb and the shame associated with being the subject of one. The emphasis on Jerusalem as a "mother" connects to lineage and heritage, which were deeply valued. Jerusalem, the chosen city, was meant to be a spiritual mother to God's people, but her infidelity has corrupted this role, making her a byword instead of a beacon. This prophecy foreshadows the pronouncements of condemnation and scorn that would follow her apostasy, aligning with God's justice against egregious sin. The theme of the divine indictment and the pronouncement of future scorn are consistent throughout the prophetic books.
Ezekiel 16 44 Commentary
The verse foretells that Jerusalem's degenerate state will become a proverb, a commonly cited example of a degenerate mother city. Just as a child dishonoring a mother brings shame and reproach, Jerusalem’s spiritual harlotry has brought profound disgrace upon herself, representing the spiritual mother of the people. This highlights a principle of reciprocity in judgment: the reproaches cast upon God (through Jerusalem's actions) will now be cast upon her. Her actions will become a warning to all others, encapsulating her history of rebellion and the inevitable consequences. The coming proverb serves as a prophetic declaration of her infamy.