Ezekiel 16 61

Ezekiel 16:61 kjv

Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

Ezekiel 16:61 nkjv

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.

Ezekiel 16:61 niv

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you.

Ezekiel 16:61 esv

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you.

Ezekiel 16:61 nlt

Then you will remember with shame all the evil you have done. I will make your sisters, Samaria and Sodom, to be your daughters, even though they are not part of our covenant.

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 61 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:61 speaks to Jerusalem’s future experience of remembering its past and being profoundly ashamed. This shame will coincide with a remarkable divine act where God will reunite Jerusalem with its "sisters"—referring metaphorically to Samaria (the older) and Sodom (the younger)—but in a surprising, redemptive capacity where Jerusalem will receive them as "daughters." Crucially, this astonishing act of restoration and reordering of relationships is stated not to be based on any faithfulness or merit found in Jerusalem's broken covenant, but entirely on God's sovereign grace and initiative.

Ezekiel 16 61 Context

Ezekiel 16 details an elaborate, shocking allegory comparing Jerusalem to an abandoned foundling girl whom God graciously rescued, nurtured, and adorned as His bride. However, this bride (Jerusalem) then prostituted herself by engaging in idolatry and forming illicit alliances with pagan nations, becoming more unfaithful and perverse than even Samaria (the Northern Kingdom) or Sodom, earning severe judgment. The intensity of God’s anger and the explicit comparisons position Jerusalem at the pinnacle of wickedness. Verse 61, therefore, comes as a radical turning point after descriptions of extreme condemnation. It introduces an unexpected theme of restoration rooted in divine grace, despite Jerusalem’s abject failure, hinting at a future where Jerusalem's deep shame will open the door for a reordering of divine relationships and a display of God's steadfast covenant love.

Ezekiel 16 61 Word analysis

• Then (וְזָכַרְתְּ / v’zakhar't): The Hebrew verb means "and you will remember." This indicates a future act, directly consequent to God's intervention described in the preceding verses. The "remembering" isn't just recalling facts but a deep, convicting introspection of past actions and their spiritual implications.
• you will remember your ways (דְּרָכַיִךְ / d’rakhayikh): "Your ways" refers to Jerusalem’s entire course of life and conduct, specifically the idolatry, apostasy, and wickedness meticulously detailed in the earlier parts of chapter 16. It signifies a profound self-reckoning.
• and be ashamed (וְנִכְלַמְתְּ / v’nikhlamt): This denotes a deep sense of humiliation, disgrace, and remorse. It’s a divine intent for repentance and a turning away from sin, not merely a fleeting emotion, but a sustained moral transformation before God.
• when you receive (בְּקַבְּלֵךְ / b’qabb’lek): Literally "in your receiving" or "when you take in." It suggests a future act where Jerusalem, though formerly the most wicked, will become the recipient or hostess to its former 'sisters' under new terms.
• your sisters (אֲחוֹתַיִךְ / 'akhotaikh): Refers to Samaria (the older sister, representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and Sodom (the younger sister, representing pagan immorality or utter godlessness, a benchmark for extreme wickedness). The comparison in earlier verses placed Jerusalem as worse than both.
• both your older and your younger (הַגְּדֹלוֹת מִמֵּךְ לְעֻמַּת קְטַנּוֹת מִמֵּךְ / haggedolot mimmekh l'ummat q’tan’not mimmekh): Explicitly categorizes Samaria as older and Sodom as younger, reinforcing the breadth of Israel's connection to others whom they might have looked down upon.
• and I will give them (וְנָתַתִּי אֹתָן / v'natatti otan): "I" refers to Yahweh, highlighting His sovereign, gracious initiative in this restoration and reordering. "Give them" points to His active bestowal of the sisters.
• to you for daughters (לָךְ לְבָנוֹת / lakh l’vanot): This is a radical re-framing. Instead of them remaining "sisters" (or rivals in sin), Jerusalem is granted a maternal role, a position of authority and perhaps spiritual headship over them. This implies a significant change in relationship and status, where Jerusalem, under God, would be responsible for nurturing or leading them. This is an unexpected elevation given Jerusalem's prior status as the worst.
• but not because of your covenant (לֹא מֵאֲמָנָתֵךְ / lo me'amanatek): This is a crucial qualifier. It states emphatically that this act of grace and restoration is not merited by Jerusalem’s faithfulness or adherence to the old covenant, which they broke repeatedly. This points away from human merit and towards divine, unmerited favor.

• "Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed": This phrase highlights God's goal for His people—deep introspection and conviction that leads to genuine humility and remorse for sin, rather than mere regret over consequences. This internal transformation is foundational for the subsequent restoration.
• "when you receive your sisters...for daughters": This powerful re-configuration of relationships signals an astounding scope of divine grace. Jerusalem, previously shamed as worse than Sodom and Samaria, is now elevated to a maternal role. This imagery can anticipate an eschatological re-unification and the bringing of nations into God's family through Jerusalem (or Zion).
• "but not because of your covenant": This is the heart of grace in the New Covenant. The former covenant, conditional on obedience, was broken. The future restoration, therefore, must operate on a different principle—God's steadfast love and mercy, irrespective of human performance, pointing to an unconditional divine promise. It underscores God's initiative as the sole basis for hope.

Ezekiel 16 61 Bonus section

The concept of "receiving as daughters" here can be understood not as a literal historical event of the cities of Samaria or Sodom being subjugated, but as a symbolic representation of an ultimate, grand ingathering under God's renewed covenant. It anticipates a spiritual reordering where Israel (represented by Jerusalem/Judah, post-judgment and repentant) would serve as a central spiritual parent figure for former pagan or wayward nations, even those previously despised or considered utterly depraved (like Sodom's inhabitants as a type for Gentile wickedness). This profound and unexpected elevation for Jerusalem highlights God's power to not only forgive the most grievous sins but also to restore the sinner to a position of blessing and leadership, all rooted in His unfathomable grace rather than any inherent worthiness. It stands as a testament to the future universal scope of God's redemptive plan.

Ezekiel 16 61 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:61 is a pivot of divine grace amidst severe judgment. It details Jerusalem's future remorse, prompting a deep sense of shame for its spiritual adultery and unparalleled wickedness. This transformative moment of self-loathing occurs in the context of God re-establishing its relationships with "sisters," Samaria and Sodom. Strikingly, Jerusalem, previously deemed worse than them, is now positioned to receive them not as equals, but as "daughters." This prophetic reversal suggests a future where Jerusalem holds a pivotal, nurturing role in a restored, expanded community of faith. The core of this restoration is God's unconditional love, as explicitly stated that this new relationship is "not because of your covenant." This underlines that the basis of salvation and future glory is not human merit or covenant fidelity, but solely God's merciful initiative and enduring faithfulness to His ultimate promises, foreshadowing the New Covenant era built on grace.