Ezekiel 16 57

Ezekiel 16:57 kjv

Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.

Ezekiel 16:57 nkjv

before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere.

Ezekiel 16:57 niv

before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scorned by the daughters of Edom and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines?all those around you who despise you.

Ezekiel 16:57 esv

before your wickedness was uncovered? Now you have become an object of reproach for the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and for the daughters of the Philistines, those all around who despise you.

Ezekiel 16:57 nlt

But now your greater wickedness has been exposed to all the world, and you are the one who is scorned ? by Edom and all her neighbors and by Philistia.

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 57 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:57 speaks to Jerusalem's profound disgrace, stating that her deep moral corruption, symbolized as wickedness, was hidden for a time but would eventually be exposed. This exposure would lead to her being mocked and scorned not only by the people of Syria and Philistia—nations she historically despised—but also by all her surrounding neighbors. The verse highlights a pivotal moment where Jerusalem's secret depravity would become public knowledge, resulting in ultimate humiliation, ironically at the hands of those she viewed as lesser.

Ezekiel 16 57 Context

Ezekiel 16 is a deeply symbolic and highly graphic allegory. It portrays Jerusalem as an abandoned infant, rescued, nurtured, and adorned by God, only to turn into a profligate prostitute, offering herself to every passing nation. God's faithfulness and generosity are contrasted with Jerusalem's egregious betrayal through idolatry and foreign alliances, surpassing even the wickedness of her "sisters," Samaria (Israel) and Sodom. This lengthy chapter details her spiritual adultery, the gifts God bestowed upon her that she misused for sin, and the coming judgment as a direct consequence. Verse 57 comes in a section where God is highlighting the full extent of Jerusalem's depravity, specifically stating that her future judgment and humiliation at the hands of nations like Syria and Philistia would occur after her previously hidden sins were revealed. The reference to these specific nations emphasizes the depth of her shame, as these were long-standing enemies whom Judah likely considered less morally upright. This served as a polemic against Judah's own self-righteousness, illustrating that her wickedness was so extreme that even despised pagan neighbors would hold her in contempt.

Ezekiel 16 57 Word analysis

• Before (בְּטֶ֚רֶם, bə·ṭe·rem): A temporal particle, meaning "not yet," "before." It establishes a timeframe, indicating that Jerusalem's full depravity had not yet been fully exposed or judged. This implies a period of hidden sin preceding the public revelation and humiliation.
• your wickedness (רָעָתֵ֑ךְ, ra·'a·ṯeḵ): Refers to the collective evil, corruption, moral depravity, and idolatry of Jerusalem/Judah described throughout the chapter (her harlotry, bloodshed, betrayal of God). This term encompasses the entirety of her rebellious actions against God and His covenant. The possessive suffix 'your' emphasizes it as her personal guilt.
• was uncovered (תִּגָּל֣וֹת, tig·gā·lōṯ): From the root גָּלָה (gālah), meaning "to uncover," "reveal," "disclose." It signifies that Jerusalem's sins, previously kept somewhat under wraps or tolerated by divine patience, would now be laid bare for all to see. This word is strongly linked in scripture to the revealing of "nakedness," signifying shame and judgment, particularly in contexts of sexual transgression (e.g., Lev 18) or divine judgment exposing national disgrace.
• like the reproach (חֶרְפַּ֣ת, ḥer·paṯ): From the root חֶרְפָּה (ḥer·pāh), meaning "reproach," "shame," "disgrace," "scorn," "derision." It indicates public humiliation, often vocalized as taunts or mockery. The exposure of Jerusalem's wickedness would directly be her shame, a public degradation.
• of the daughters of Syria (בְּנוֹת־אֲרַ֨ם, bə·nōṯ-ʾaram): "Daughters" (בְּנוֹת, bə·nōṯ) refers to the towns, inhabitants, or even symbolic representatives of the land. "Syria" (ʾaram) was the nation Aram (Damascus) which was often an enemy or rival of Israel/Judah (e.g., 2 Ki 16). For Judah to be shamed by Syria underscores the depth of her fall.
• and all those around her (וְכׇל־סְבִיבוֹתֶ֜יהָ, wə·ḵol-sə·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯe·hā): Refers to all the surrounding nations or peoples, implying that the contempt would be widespread and universal, not confined to just one or two adversaries.
• the daughters of the Philistines (בְּנוֹת־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים, bə·nōṯ-pə·liš·tîm): Similar to "daughters of Syria," referring to the Philistine cities/people. The Philistines were ancient, enduring adversaries of Israel, consistently a source of conflict (e.g., 1 Sam 17). Their contempt would be a particularly bitter pill for Judah to swallow due to their long history of rivalry and disdain.
• those who despise you (מַכְאִסֹֽתְךְ, maḵ·ʾisōṯəḵə): From the root כָּעַס (kāʿas), meaning "to be angry," "grieve," "provoke to anger," or here, to "displease," "scorn," "despise." It signifies not just indifference but active scorn and derision. The participating nations found Judah's behavior offensive and looked down upon her.
• on every side (מִסָּבִ֖יב, mis·sā·ḇîḇ): Emphasizes the omnipresent and pervasive nature of the contempt. Judah's disgrace would be visible and mocked from all directions, highlighting the inescapable nature of her humiliation.

Words-group analysis:

• "Before your wickedness was uncovered": This phrase highlights God's patience. There was a period when Jerusalem's deep-seated spiritual adultery was ongoing but not yet fully exposed or publicly condemned. It sets the stage for a dramatic revelation and subsequent judgment, emphasizing the justice in God's eventual action.
• "like the reproach of the daughters of Syria... and all those around her, the daughters of the Philistines": This comparison indicates the manner and source of Jerusalem's shame. Her own moral collapse would become a source of scorn from neighboring nations. The inclusion of Syria and Philistia, nations often deemed by Judah as morally inferior or pagan enemies, intensifies the humiliation. It implies a 'poetic justice' where those who despised God's people would now have genuine grounds to despise them for their unparalleled wickedness.
• "those who despise you on every side": This closing phrase underlines the depth and universality of Jerusalem's eventual ignominy. The scorn is not limited to mere observation; it's active "despising," an act of contempt. It signifies that Jerusalem's once-exalted status among nations had fallen to a position where her former enemies had a legitimate reason to look down on her with disdain from all quarters.

Ezekiel 16 57 Bonus section

The "uncovering" (גָּלָה, gālah) of wickedness links strongly to the Deuteronomic curses and Levitical laws, where the "uncovering of nakedness" is a term for forbidden sexual relations leading to uncleanness and national judgment (Lev 18, 20). Here, it's extended to Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry, which results in a divine judgment that exposes her metaphorical "nakedness" before the nations, bringing her public shame and humiliation. This prophetic imagery signifies a stripping away of all pretense and glory, leaving Jerusalem exposed in her depravity, unable to hide her rebellion from God or man. The irony lies in the fact that Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations (Isa 49:6), yet her extreme wickedness caused those nations to scoff at her instead, fulfilling the negative side of the covenant promises (Deut 28:37).

Ezekiel 16 57 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:57 powerfully condenses Jerusalem's moral freefall into utter disgrace. God's declaration asserts that the true extent of her "wickedness," the spiritual harlotry and idolatry so graphically depicted earlier in the chapter, had yet to be fully revealed and brought into the open. The time was coming when this hidden depravity would burst forth into public view, not just for God to judge, but for the entire world to witness. The profound shame inflicted upon Jerusalem would stem ironically from the "reproach" of surrounding nations like Syria and Philistia—peoples whom Judah typically regarded as less righteous and often disdained. This constitutes a severe prophetic blow, demonstrating that Jerusalem had so far transgressed God's covenant that even pagan nations, her historical adversaries, would be justified in scorning her. It is a testament to God's standard of justice that unrepentant sin, no matter who commits it, leads to public humiliation and serves to justify God's judgment in the eyes of the nations. The eventual revelation and humiliation serve as a necessary step for Judah to finally acknowledge her guilt and God's righteous character, preparing the way for future restoration as outlined later in the chapter (Ezek 16:60-63).