Ezekiel 16:54 kjv
That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.
Ezekiel 16:54 nkjv
that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did when you comforted them.
Ezekiel 16:54 niv
so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort.
Ezekiel 16:54 esv
that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have done, becoming a consolation to them.
Ezekiel 16:54 nlt
Then you will be truly ashamed of everything you have done, for your sins make them feel good in comparison.
Ezekiel 16 54 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 16:53 | "I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them the fortunes of you in their midst." | God's promise of restoration |
| Jeremiah 30:3 | "For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”" | Restoration of Israel |
| Isaiah 11:11 | "In that day the Lord God will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea." | Regathering of dispersed people |
| Hosea 1:10 | "Yet the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' it shall be said to them, 'Children of the living God.'" | Restoration of identity |
| Romans 11:26 | "and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written, 'The deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish godlessness from Jacob'" | Spiritual salvation of Israel |
| Luke 1:72 | "to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant," | Fulfillment of covenant |
| Acts 15:16 | "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up," | David's fallen tent rebuilt |
| Revelation 21:3 | "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”" | Dwelling of God with His people |
| Revelation 21:24 | "And the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it." | Nations walking in God's light |
| Isaiah 54:7 | "For a small moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you." | God's mercy in gathering |
| Jeremiah 3:14 | "Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; and I will take you, one from a city, and two from a clan, and I will bring you to Zion." | Specificity of return |
| Zechariah 8:13 | "and as you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”" | Blessing instead of curse |
| Genesis 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”" | Blessing to all nations |
| Galatians 3:8 | "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.'”" | Gospel preached to Abraham |
| Amos 9:14 | "I will bring back the captives of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit." | Rebuilding cities, planting |
| Deuteronomy 30:3 | "then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you." | God's compassion and gathering |
| Ezekiel 36:11 | "Then I will fill you with people, and all the house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt." | Cities inhabited, ruins rebuilt |
| Ezekiel 37:14 | "And I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it, declares the LORD.”" | Spirit and new life |
| Acts 3:21 | "whom heaven must receive until the time for the restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old." | Restoration of all things |
| Revelation 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to give to everyone according to what he has done." | Coming reward |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 54 Meaning
This verse speaks of Jerusalem's restoration. It indicates that in a future time, both the repentant Samaria (representing Israel) and the repentant Sodom (representing Gentile nations) will be returned to their former state or even better, serving as a testament to God's mercy and faithfulness towards His covenant people.
Ezekiel 16 54 Context
Ezekiel chapter 16 presents a deeply symbolic allegory of Jerusalem, personified as an unfaithful wife (like Samaria and Sodom) who abandoned her marital covenant with God for various pagan lovers. The chapter details Jerusalem's sinfulness, her subsequent judgment through destruction and exile, and finally, God's unwavering promise of future restoration. Verse 54, therefore, stands within the section of the prophecy that pivots from condemnation to hope, announcing a future time when God, in His faithfulness, will reinstate Jerusalem and His people, alongside the restoration of previously apostate nations. This restoration is presented as a manifestation of God's mercy and a testament to His enduring covenant.
Ezekiel 16 54 Word Analysis
- וּמִסְפַּ֣ר (wəmispar): "And the number" or "and the quantity." This suggests that the restoration of Sodom and Samaria, and by extension Jerusalem, will be extensive and far-reaching. It implies a return not just in quality but also in abundance, signifying a full and complete restoration. The "number" points to the multitude that will be affected by this restorative act.
- שְׁבִ֥ית (šəḇîṯ): "Captivity" or "exile." It refers to the state of being taken captive, stripped of liberty and homeland. The verse speaks of restoring this state of captivity, which paradoxically means returning them from captivity to their former positions or an improved state.
- לְמִסְפַּ֨ר (ləmispar): "To their number." This phrase reiterates the scale and scope of the restoration. It's not just a general restoration, but a specific re-establishment according to their original numbers, or even an increase.
- סְד֣וֹם (Səḏôm): "Sodom." A city notorious for its wickedness, used here as a symbol of Gentile nations given to sin and destined for divine judgment. Its restoration signifies God's sovereign ability to bring grace even to the most outwardly sinful and estranged peoples.
- וּשְׁכֵנוֹתֶ֤יהָ (ûšəḵênoṯêha): "And her inhabitants" or "and her dwellings." Refers to the people and the places associated with Sodom. The restoration encompasses both the land and its people.
- וּשָׁמָר֛וֹן (ûšāmārwôn): "And Samaria." The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, which also fell into idolatry and apostasy. It represents Israel as a whole that had strayed from God.
- וּשְׁכֵנוֹתֶיהָ (ûšəḵênoṯêha): "And her inhabitants" or "and her dwellings." Similar to the reference for Sodom, it denotes the people and places of Samaria.
- וּמִסְפַּרְיָ֗ה (ûmispaṟəyā): "And the number of them" or "and their number." This emphasizes that not only Samaria but also its associated populations or regions are part of this restorative promise.
- בְּתוֹכְכֶֽךָ (bəṯwōḵəḵā): "In the midst of you" or "within you." This crucial phrase refers to Jerusalem. It indicates that alongside the restoration of Sodom and Samaria, Jerusalem itself (the personified "you") will also share in this blessing, experiencing its own restoration amidst the broader sweep of God’s redemptive work.
Word Group Analysis
- "the number of their captivity" / "their captivity to their number": This phrase, "מספר שביתן" (mispar shvitahn), likely means restoring their populations from captivity, bringing back their full count of people. The parallel structure with Sodom's inhabitants and Samaria's inhabitants underscores a comprehensive return and re-establishment. It's about returning all of them, restoring what was lost in exile.
- "Sodom and her inhabitants, and Samaria and her inhabitants": This grouping emphasizes the complete scope of God’s future mercy. It encompasses not only the core entities (Sodom and Samaria) but also their entire surrounding populace and dwelling places. This illustrates that God's grace can extend to the most unlikely, and will fully restore His chosen people from their widespread dispersions.
- "and the number of them in the midst of you": The placement of this final phrase within the verse ("in the midst of you") connects the restoration of these external entities directly to Jerusalem's own renewed state. It signifies that Jerusalem's future will involve experiencing a shared blessing with formerly apostate Gentile nations, reflecting a renewed covenant community.
Ezekiel 16 54 Bonus Section
This verse echoes the prophetic theme of Israel's regathering, a core promise throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 30-31, Isaiah 11). In the New Testament, the restoration of "all things" (Acts 3:21) and the ultimate reign of Christ the King encompass this concept, with believers from all nations (Gentiles) now incorporated into God's covenant people through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate restoration. The restoration of "Sodom" in particular points to the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant family of God, a truth further illuminated by Paul in Romans 11, where he speaks of the grafted branches on the olive tree of Israel. Jerusalem, therefore, becomes the nucleus of a restored and enlarged covenant community, embracing those who were once considered "far off" and the remnant of Israel.
Ezekiel 16 54 Commentary
Ezekiel 16:54 acts as a profound assurance of God's ultimate faithfulness. After detailing Jerusalem's grave sins and the resultant destruction and exile, the prophet conveys that God's judgment is not His final word. The restoration of Sodom, a symbol of extreme wickedness, and Samaria, a symbol of Israelite apostasy, signifies the vast scope of God's redemptive plan. They are to be restored, along with Jerusalem, as a testament to God's covenant love and His power to transform and renew. This restoration transcends mere historical recall; it points toward a future eschatological reality where God establishes a renewed people in His land, a state made possible through His forgiving and restoring grace. The mention of "their number" emphasizes that none who belong to God’s redemptive plan will be lost.