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 50 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 13:13But the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.Wickedness as deep-seated in Sodom.
Gen 18:20-21Then the Lord said, "The outcry against Sodom... is so great... I will go down to see."God's observation of severe sin, leading to investigation.
Gen 19:24Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah.Divine judgment and destruction of Sodom.
Deut 18:12For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.Actions detestable to God warrant judgment.
Prov 6:16-19There are six things the Lord hates... seven that are detestable to him...Lists various 'abominations' including haughty eyes.
Prov 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Direct link between pride and destruction.
Prov 21:4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the lamp of the wicked—are sin!Explicitly defines pride as sin.
Isa 1:10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom!Refers to Judah's leaders as "rulers of Sodom" due to their sin.
Isa 2:11The haughty eyes of man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low.Prophecy of humbling the proud.
Jer 23:14Also in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing... they commit adultery and walk in lies... like Sodom.Moral corruption likened to Sodom.
Amos 4:11"I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."God's past judgments used as examples.
Mal 4:1"Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a blazing furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble."Future judgment for the proud.
Mat 10:15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.Sodom as a benchmark for severe judgment, yet others may be worse.
Luke 17:29But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.Sodom's destruction as a sudden and comprehensive judgment.
Rom 1:26-27God gave them over to shameful lusts... for even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones...Description of a form of abomination resulting from rebellion against God.
Jas 4:6God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.God's consistent opposition to pride.
1 Pet 5:5...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud..."Exhortation to humility, recalling God's opposition to the proud.
2 Pet 2:6...if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes and made them an example...Sodom as an example of judgment for future ungodliness.
Jude 1:7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah... gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion... as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.Emphasizes sexual perversion as part of Sodom's sin and their eternal punishment.
Ps 33:13-15From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind... he considers everything they do.God's omnipresent sight and knowledge of all actions.
Heb 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight... Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.Reinforces that God sees all, just as with Sodom.
Lev 18:22"'Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.'"Explicitly defines specific sexual act as "detestable" (to'evah).
Lev 18:28"...the land will vomit you out for defiling it, just as it vomited out the nations that were before you."The land "vomiting out" for abominations, similar to divine "removal."

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 50 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:50 describes the ultimate reasons for the destruction of Sodom: an intrinsic arrogance that led to the practice of actions gravely offensive to God. Their pride (haughtiness) coupled with their morally repugnant deeds (abomination) was committed openly in the sight of the Lord. As a direct consequence of His witness to these transgressions, God intervened decisively and brought about their removal and destruction. This verse highlights the profound connection between inner spiritual state, outward sinful acts, divine observation, and subsequent just judgment.

Ezekiel 16 50 Context

Ezekiel chapter 16 presents a vivid and extensive allegory comparing Jerusalem to an unfaithful wife. The chapter traces Jerusalem's history from its ignoble origins, its adoption and adornment by God, its subsequent spiritual prostitution through idolatry and alliances, and culminates in a prophecy of severe judgment. Verses 44-59 specifically focus on an ironic and shocking comparison: Jerusalem's wickedness has surpassed even that of her "sisters," Samaria (representing the northern kingdom of Israel) and the notoriously sinful Sodom. Ezekiel 16:50 delves into the specific character of Sodom's sins, clarifying that its downfall was due to deep-seated spiritual pride ("haughty") and widespread moral corruption ("abomination") committed overtly. This detail serves to intensify Jerusalem's condemnation, as her own transgressions, committed despite greater privilege and revelation, are deemed even more grievous than those of Sodom, who serve as a grim benchmark of depravity. The historical context reflects a time when Jerusalem, before its destruction by Babylon, faced God's judgment for spiritual unfaithfulness and injustice, echoing and exceeding past failures of other sinful cities.

Ezekiel 16 50 Word analysis

  • They: Refers to the inhabitants of Sodom. In the larger allegorical context, this collective guilt of Sodom serves as a stark example for Jerusalem.
  • were haughty (וַתִּגְבְּהֶינָה - vattigb’heyna): From the Hebrew root gabah (גבה), meaning to be high, exalted. Here, it signifies arrogance, pride, or a puffed-up sense of self-importance. This inner disposition is a root sin, implying a disdain for God's commands and for others, leading to a self-sufficient and rebellious spirit. Proverbs 16:18 connects pride directly with destruction.
  • and committed abomination (וַתַּעֲשֶׂינָה תּוֹעֵבָה - vatta'aśeyna to'evah): To'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה) denotes something detestable, morally repulsive, or abhorrent in God's eyes. It often encompasses idol worship (Deut 18:12) and various severe sexual perversions (Lev 18:22, Gen 19), which characterized Sodom. This is not merely a social misstep but a grave spiritual offense against God's holy nature.
  • before me (לְפָנַי - lefanay): Literally "to my face" or "in my presence." This emphasizes that their sins were committed brazenly, without fear or concealment, directly affronting God's omnipresence and authority. It highlights the open rebellion and profound disrespect for God inherent in their actions.
  • Therefore: Marks a direct cause-and-effect relationship. God's response is not arbitrary but a righteous judgment logically flowing from their behavior.
  • I removed them (וָאָסִיר אֹתָן - va'asir otan, or Hiphil Perfect הֲסִירֹתִים - hasirotim meaning I caused them to be removed): From the root sur (סור), meaning to turn aside, depart, or remove. In the Hiphil stem, it signifies causing to depart or to be removed. Here, it refers to God's divine act of extermination and destruction, specifically Sodom's overthrow as depicted in Genesis 19. It highlights God's sovereignty and active involvement in judgment.
  • when I saw it (כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי - ka'asher ra'iti): Ra'ah (ראה) means to see, observe, perceive. This phrase underscores God's perfect knowledge and justice. His judgment is not based on hearsay or assumption but on His direct, undeniable observation of their wickedness. This reaffirms God's role as the omniscient Judge who sees all and acts accordingly (Heb 4:13).
  • "They were haughty and committed abomination": This phrase groups Sodom's internal spiritual condition (pride) with its external sinful acts (abomination). It illustrates how an arrogant heart often leads to egregious, morally perverse actions, rather than just isolated incidents.
  • "before me. Therefore, I removed them when I saw it": This phrase group links divine observation, the logical consequence of sin, and God's active, justified judgment. It underscores God's omnipresence in knowing sin and His sovereign authority in executing judgment. God's act of removal is a direct, righteous response to sins committed in His full sight.

Ezekiel 16 50 Bonus section

Ezekiel's enumeration of Sodom's sins in verses 49-50 offers a theological expansion on the Genesis account. While Genesis 19 emphasizes the immediate context of attempted gang rape and homosexuality, Ezekiel details the underlying social and spiritual conditions: pride, abundant food, lack of concern for the poor, and idleness. These internal vices cultivated a fertile ground for "abomination" to flourish. The order presented—pride first, then abundance leading to idleness and finally full-blown detestable practices—suggests a progression of moral decay, reinforcing that the to'evah was a manifestation of deeper, foundational sin. Thus, Sodom's sin was not merely one isolated incident but a pervasive moral rot in a society given over to itself, and most importantly, carried out in deliberate defiance and in God's direct sight, demanding a righteous response.

Ezekiel 16 50 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:50 delivers a concise yet powerful summation of Sodom's ruin, setting the stage for Jerusalem's greater condemnation. It defines Sodom's core spiritual issue as "haughtiness" – a profound internal pride that fosters self-sufficiency and contempt for both God and neighbor. This internal state then manifested outwardly in "abomination," encompassing the full spectrum of morally detestable acts, including severe sexual perversions as highlighted in Genesis 19 and throughout Scripture concerning such terms. The crucial addition "before me" elevates these sins from societal transgressions to a direct, audacious affront against God Himself, signifying a blatant disregard for divine authority. Consequently, God's "removal" of Sodom was not an arbitrary act but a direct, righteous, and observable judgment, initiated "when I saw it." This affirms God's perfect knowledge, justice, and swift action against unrepentant, grievous sin rooted in pride and open rebellion.