Ezekiel 16:5 kjv
None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
Ezekiel 16:5 nkjv
No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born.
Ezekiel 16:5 niv
No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.
Ezekiel 16:5 esv
No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.
Ezekiel 16:5 nlt
No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die.
Ezekiel 16 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 16:1-2 | "Now, when the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations," | Ezekiel 16:2 (Contextual opening) |
| Deuteronomy 7:7 | "The Lord did not set His favor on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the fewest of all peoples," | Deuteronomy 7:7 (God's sovereign choice) |
| Isaiah 64:6 | "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our inequities, like the wind, Have taken us away." | Isaiah 64:6 (Human sinfulness from birth) |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." | Jeremiah 1:5 (God's foreknowledge and calling) |
| Psalm 22:9-10 | "But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God." | Psalm 22:10 (Messianic prophecy of abandonment) |
| Hosea 11:1 | "When Israel was a youth, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son." | Hosea 11:1 (God's fatherly love for Israel) |
| Amos 3:2 | "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”" | Amos 3:2 (Special relationship implies accountability) |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." | John 15:16 (Christ's selection of disciples) |
| Romans 9:11-13 | "For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls," | Romans 9:11 (Election irrespective of human merit) |
| Acts 7:2-4 | "And he said, 'Men and brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,'" | Acts 7:2 (God's appearance to Abraham) |
| Galatians 4:4 | "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law," | Galatians 4:4 (Christ's timing and humanity) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 | "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." | 1 Cor 1:26 (God choosing the weak) |
| Revelation 21:4 | "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. For these things are passed away.”" | Rev 21:4 (Ultimate restoration from vulnerability) |
| Isaiah 49:14-16 | "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.'" | Isaiah 49:14 (Woman's feelings of abandonment) |
| Psalm 27:10 | "When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up." | Psalm 27:10 (God's ultimate provision) |
| Genesis 17:1-8 | "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.'" | Genesis 17:1 (Covenant with Abraham) |
| Deuteronomy 32:10 | "He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." | Deuteronomy 32:10 (God's protective care) |
| Joshua 24:2-4 | "And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods." | Joshua 24:2 (Abraham's ancestors served other gods) |
| Jeremiah 2:27 | "They say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’" | Jeremiah 2:27 (Idolatry of the unthinking) |
| Ezekiel 16:46 | "Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells to your left with her daughters; and your younger sister, who dwells to your right with her daughters, is Sodom and her daughters." | Ezekiel 16:46 (Relational context within Israel) |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 5 Meaning
This verse vividly describes Jerusalem's ignominious birth and early vulnerability, likening it to a newborn abandoned to die. It underscores God's salvific act in choosing and nurturing this infant nation, emphasizing its helplessness and absolute dependence on Him from its very inception.
Ezekiel 16 5 Context
Ezekiel chapter 16 is a powerful and extended metaphor comparing Jerusalem to a woman. This chapter follows the prophecy of judgment against the people of Israel. The prophet is tasked with making Jerusalem "know her abominations." This verse, the fifth in the chapter, serves as the starting point of this elaborate portrayal, describing the initial state of the city from its "birth." Historically, Jerusalem's origins are traced back to the Jebusites before being conquered by David. The prophet, however, attributes its existence and early survival to divine intervention, laying the groundwork for his subsequent critique of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness by highlighting God's foundational kindness.
Ezekiel 16 5 Word Analysis
- וְאֶלֵּיךְ (ve’elayikh): "and as for you" - emphasizes the specific focus shifting to Jerusalem.
- בְּיוֹם (b’yom): "at the day" - marks the specific time of this event.
- לִדְתֵּךְ (lidetech): "of your birth" - indicates the moment of origination.
- מְבַלַּעַת (meval’at): "thrown out" or "abandoned" - conveys utter rejection and no provision.
- גֹּלַעַת (gola’at): "cast away" - reinforces the sense of disposability.
- עוֹר (or): "skin" or "flesh" - refers to the exposed, tender, and unprotected state of the infant.
- קָרְבָּנוֹת (korbanot): This word usually refers to offerings, but here it might suggest exposed innards or raw vulnerability, drawing a stark contrast to proper, ritualistic offerings. Some scholars see a linguistic play or echo of the verb 'karav' (to approach, to offer) implying a kind of gruesome 'offering' of the helpless.
- בַּעֲבוּר (ba’avur): "for the sake of" or "on account of" - this anticipates God's action not due to Jerusalem's worth, but His own purpose.
- יוֹדֵעַ (yodea’): "knew" - implying divine foresight and intimate knowledge, not mere acquaintance.
- שַׂלְדֹּת (saldot): This is a rare and debated word. Possible interpretations include "woollen cloths" or "bindings." Regardless, it implies rudimentary swaddling, inadequate for proper care. It suggests something primitive and insufficient for survival. The meaning points to basic, likely inadequate, coverings or protection that did not ensure survival on its own.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "thrown out" and "cast away": These terms together emphatically describe the complete abandonment of the newborn, setting a tone of absolute helplessness and negation of care.
- "your birth": Not a joyous celebration, but the moment of direst need.
- "skin" and "bound": paints a picture of exposure and very basic, insufficient wrapping.
- "none had pity on you": This collective statement amplifies the helplessness by indicating the universal lack of compassion.
Ezekiel 16 5 Bonus Section
The anthropomorphic comparison of cities and nations to human beings, particularly women and children, is common in ancient Near Eastern literature and throughout the Old Testament. Ezekiel's portrayal is particularly detailed and graphic, making it potent. This verse serves as the theological foundation for the subsequent accusations of harlotry and idolatry leveled against Jerusalem; if God initiated the relationship out of pure mercy toward a helpless entity, its subsequent infidelity becomes an even graver betrayal. The theological point is clear: God's election and covenant were not based on any inherent quality or merit within Israel itself, but on His unfailing grace.
Ezekiel 16 5 Commentary
The verse employs stark imagery to portray Jerusalem as an unwanted and critically vulnerable infant upon its founding. It was not welcomed or protected by any parent or caregiver. This extreme state of abandonment highlights its precarious beginning, where its very existence was uncertain without external intervention. The "thrown out" and "cast away" actions underscore total neglect. The inadequate "skin" and "bound" covering signifies extreme exposure to the elements and predators. This initial helplessness is crucial because it positions God's subsequent actions not as a response to merit, but as a sovereign choice driven by His mercy and predetermined purpose for Israel. This paints Jerusalem’s national origin as an act of divine rescue.