Ezekiel 16 50

Ezekiel 16:50 kjv

And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Ezekiel 16:50 nkjv

And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.

Ezekiel 16:50 niv

They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

Ezekiel 16:50 esv

They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.

Ezekiel 16:50 nlt

She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen.

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 50 Meaning

This verse describes Jerusalem's profound sin, equating it to Sodom's in its haughtiness, excess food, and peaceful security, yet also noting that Sodom's daughters did not sin as grievously as Jerusalem. It highlights the extreme depravity of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 16 50 Context

Chapter 16 is a symbolic indictment of Jerusalem, portraying her as an unfaithful wife. God adopts her as an infant and showers her with love and blessings. However, Jerusalem, in her prosperity, engages in widespread spiritual adultery, symbolized by her numerous lovers (idolatrous nations and their gods). This verse serves as the climax of the condemnation, directly comparing Jerusalem's sinfulness to Sodom, the archetypal city of wickedness known for its pride and societal depravity, including homosexual acts. God declares that Jerusalem's sins, though multifaceted and particularly abhorrent, surpassed even those of Sodom and Gomorrah in their severity and scale of rebellion.

Ezekiel 16 50 Word analysis

• And (וְ): Conjunction, linking this verse to the preceding description of Sodom's guilt.
• behold (הִנֵּה): Particle of attention-getting, emphasizing the declaration that follows.
• this: Demonstrative pronoun, pointing to the established facts.
• was: Verb "to be" in the past tense, stating the past state of affairs.
• the guilt (עֲוֹנַת): Noun meaning iniquity, punishment for iniquity, or sin. Specifically here, it denotes the "sin" or "guilt" of.
• your sister (אֲחוֹתֵךְ): Feminine possessive noun. Refers to Samaria, who is later explicitly identified as Sodom's sister, thus linking them.
• Sodom: Proper noun, referring to the famously wicked city destroyed by God.
• her: Possessive pronoun referring back to "your sister," meaning Sodom's sister.
• pride (גַּאֲוַת): Noun meaning pride, arrogance, haughtiness.
• in: Preposition indicating location or manner.
• the plenty (שֶׁפַע): Noun meaning abundance, overflow, sufficiency.
• of bread (לָחֶם): Noun meaning food, bread. Refers to physical sustenance and well-being.
• and (וְ): Conjunction.
• the ease (שַׁלְוָה): Noun meaning prosperity, security, quiet, peace, prosperity. Refers to a state of undisturbed well-being.
• in (בְּ): Preposition.
• its: Possessive pronoun.
• her being: This is a nuanced translation of the Hebrew. It refers to the state or condition of "her," i.e., Sodom. The Hebrew idiom signifies "while she was prospering" or "in her existence."
• and (וְ): Conjunction.
• the daughters (בְּנוֹת): Noun, plural of daughter.
• of: Preposition.
• her (הָ): Possessive pronoun.
• did not: Negation particle.
• lift up (הֵרִימָה): Verb "to lift up" in the singular feminine past tense. It can mean to raise, to strengthen, or to engage in proud actions. Here, it refers to an inability or unwillingness to act arrogantly or with a haughty hand/spirit, indicating less extreme pride.
• their hand (יָד): Noun meaning hand. In a figurative sense, it can mean power, capability, or action.
• in (בְּ): Preposition.
• abhorrence (תּוֹעֵבָה): Noun meaning abomination, detestable thing. Refers to sin or wrongdoing.

Word Group Analysis:

• "guilt of your sister Sodom": This phrase directly attributes the specified sins (pride, plenty, ease) to Sodom, setting up the comparison.
• "pride, in the plenty of bread, and the ease in her being": This succinctly describes Sodom's downfall through excessive prosperity leading to arrogance and complacency.
• "and the daughters of her did not lift up their hand in abhorrence": This phrase highlights that even the people of Sodom did not engage in the specific type of heightened iniquity or aggressive sinfulness that characterized Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 16 50 Bonus Section

The contrast with Sodom highlights a theological principle: the greater the privilege and the clearer the light, the greater the accountability. Jerusalem, chosen and redeemed by God, received far more blessings and revelations than Sodom ever did. Therefore, her sin of unfaithfulness was a far graver offense against God. This principle is echoed by Jesus in the New Testament, who declared that Capernaum would face a harsher judgment than Sodom because it witnessed Jesus' miracles but did not repent (Matthew 11:23-24). This verse underscores the seriousness of apostasy and the divine justice that weighs both the nature of sin and the extent of revealed truth experienced by the sinner.

Ezekiel 16 50 Commentary

Jerusalem’s sins are painted as exceeding even those of Sodom. Sodom's offense, as detailed earlier in the chapter and by scripture, was its overwhelming pride, its abundant provision, and its unbothered complacency. These factors seemingly bred extreme depravity, including the infamous sexual sins for which it was destroyed. Yet, Ezekiel emphasizes Jerusalem’s deeper transgression. It implies that Jerusalem’s sin was not just about what she did, but about the fundamental corruption of her core, her turning away from God with a level of defiance and rebellion that made her fall more grievous. The nations surrounding Israel are often described as those who followed the abominations of Egypt and Sodom (Leviticus 18:30). Ezekiel clarifies that while Sodom’s sins were grave enough for divine judgment, Jerusalem’s sin had a more insidious depth because of her covenant relationship with God, her privileged upbringing, and her subsequent, wilful rejection of Him and His ways.