Ezekiel 16
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Book of Ezekiel 30:13–18 in an English manuscript from early 13th century, MS. Bodl. Or. 62, fol. 59a. A Latin translation appears in the margins with further interlineations above the Hebrew.
Book	Book of Ezekiel
Category	Nevi'im
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	26

Ezekiel 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Ezekiel, and is a part of the Book of the Prophets.^[3][4] This chapter contains an image of Jerusalem as an exposed female infant, Ezekiel 16:1-5; whom God took care, Ezekiel 16:6-14, but she was not faithful, Ezekiel 16:15-34, causing God to threaten her with severe judgment, Ezekiel 16:35-43, her sin will receive punishment, Ezekiel 16:44-59, but God promises mercy in the end, Ezekiel 16:60-63.^[5]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew language.
• This chapter is divided into 63 verses.

Textual versions

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter in Hebrew language:

• Masoretic Text (10th century)
• Dead Sea Scrolls: (2nd century BC^[6][7]
  • • 3Q1 (3QEzek): extant verses 31-33

Ancient translations in Koine Greek:

• Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• Theodotion version (~AD 180)

Structure

NKJV groups this chapter into:

• Ezekiel 16:1–14 = God’s Love for Jerusalem
• Ezekiel 16:15–30 = Jerusalem’s Harlotry
• Ezekiel 16:31–34 = Jerusalem’s Adultery
• Ezekiel 16:35–43 = Jerusalem’s Lovers Will Abuse Her
• Ezekiel 16:44–59 = More Wicked than Samaria and Sodom
• Ezekiel 16:60–63 = An Everlasting Covenant

Verse 2

Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,^[8]

• "Son of man" (Hebrew: בן־אדם ḇen-’ā-ḏām): this phrase is used 93 times to address Ezekiel,^[9] differing the creator God from His creatures, and to put Ezekiel as a "representative member of the human race."^[10]
• "Abomination" (Hebrew: תּוֹעֵבָה tôwʻêbah, to-ay-baw'): something loathsome or objectionable, especially for "Jehovah" (Proverbs 3:32; 21:27), "specially used for things belonging to the worship of idols" or idolatrous practices and objects.^[11][12]

Verse 3

And say, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem;

Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan;

thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.^[13]

This refers to "cultural and moral origins of Jerusalem" which was occupied by the Amorites and Hittites before David took it over.^[14] The assimilation of Israel with those former residents led to apostasy.^[15]

Verse 60

Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth,

and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.^[16]

Despite the disobedience and consequences, God will still honor His covenant with Abraham, as "the fulfillment of the covenant did not depend on the people's faithfulness."^[14] This was anticipated in Leviticus 26:43–45.^[15]