Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Ezekiel 16
Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1.
Jerusalem is the subject of this chapter by interpretation. Note the Figure of speech Prosbpographia (App-6). Not the nation as such. By application, the reader may, by grace, refer it to himself.
the Lord GOD. Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 2:4.
birth, &c. = excisions and kinships. Compare Isaiah 61:1. Only other occurrences, Ezekiel 21:30; Ezekiel 29:14.
thy father, &c. i.e. thy founder. This refers to the first builders of Jebus; not to Abraham and his seed. Jebus was a Canaanite city. See App-68. Thus Satan occupied in advance both land and capital as soon as the promise to Abraham was known. See App-23and App-26.
to supple = to cleanse.
salted: i.e., rubbed, or washed with salt. This is the custom in the Land to = day.
when. This word is not in the Hebrew text.
polluted = trodden under foot. Referring to the city, of course.
when thou . . . blood, &c. Note the Figure of speech Epizeneia (App-6), for emphasis. Canaanite cities were founded in blood, as proved to-day by human sacrifices discovered on the foundations. See note on s Kings Ezekiel 9:15-17.
hast increased = didst increase. This does not refer to the increase in Egypt, but to the city. All the tenses in this verse should be past tenses.
fashioned = developed.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
thy . . . thee : i.e. the city. Not the nation at Sinai,
thy time, &c. Of this covenant nothing has been recorded. The secret is here first revealed.
I spread My skirt, he. The symbolic act to-day, signifying the taking under one's protection. Common in the East for marrying. Compare Ruth 3:9.
saith the Lord God [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.
badgers" skin. Similarly so used to present day. Reference to Pentateuch Exodus 25:5, Exodus 26:14. Numbers 4:6. App-92. Occurs elsewhere, only here no reference to the tabernacle.
on thy forehead = in thy nose. Referring to the decorations, &c., of the city after being occupied by David.
fine flour, &c. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6, for all kinds of delicacies,
exceeding beautiful. Hebrew. me od meod. Figure of speech Epiz euxis (App-6), thus well rendered.
a kingdom. Hence the expression, "Judah and Jerusalem", the latter being reckoned as a separate kingdom.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69.
playedst the harlot. All these expressions that follow are to be interpreted of idolatry, and not to sins of the flesh, to which they are likened.
fornications: i.e. idolatrous acts.
the like things. Supply the Ellipsis better thus: "thereupon: [saying] they (the curses) come not, and it (the threatened judgment) will not be. "
of men = of the male: i.e. the Phallus, referring to the Asherah. See App-42.
whoredom = idolatry.
them = i.e. these images.
meat. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6, for all kinds of food.
for a sweet savour. Reference to Pentateuch. A legal phrase, found only in Ezekiel outside the Pentateuch. But in Ezekiel four times: via Ezekiel 6:13; Ezekiel 16:19; Ezekiel 20:28, Ezekiel 20:41. See notes on Genesis 8:21. Leviticus 1:9. App-92.
thus it was = [so] it became.
sacrificed, &c. As offerings to idols. Compare Ezekiel 16:36; Ezekiel 20:26, Ezekiel 20:31; Ezekiel 23:39. 2 Kings 16:3. Psalms 106:37, Psalms 106:38. Isaiah 57:5. Jeremiah 7:31; Jeremiah 32:35, &c.
whoredoms = idolatries. See notes on Ezekiel 16:15.
slain My children. See note on Ezekiel 16:20, above. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:21). App-92.
children = sons.
abominations. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for that which Jehovah abominated,
polluted = wallowing, or weltering.
wickedness. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.
woe, woe. Note the Figures of speech Cataplace and Epiaeuxie (App-6), for emphasis.
eminent places = brothel house. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for the idol's temple.
I have stretched out My hand, &c. Reference to Petit. (Exodus 7:19, &c.) App-92.
over = against.
ordinary food = allowance. Referring to food as measured out to captives or slaves.
will = desire. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
unto Chaldea = Assyrian idolatry as well as Egyptian (Ezekiel 16:26). See the Structure, above.
reward = hire. Used especially for the hire of fornication. Hebrew. ethnan. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18). App-92. Used outside the Pentateuch only in Ezekiel 16:31 (hire), Ezekiel 16:33, Ezekiel 16:41. Isaiah 23:17 (hire), Isaiah 23:18 (hire). Hosea 9:1 (reward). Micah 1:7 (hire).
filthiness. Hebrew = brass. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6,
for money's worth: i.e. the money of the brothel. See Ezekiel 16:31.
idols = manufactured gods.
and by = even as.
as = with the judgments meted out to: i.e. by death (Leviticus 20:20. Deuteronomy 22:22. John 8:5). Compare Genesis 38:24.
fretted Me = chafed at Me: i.e. at my laws. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "enraged Me". thou shalt not, &c.: i.e. I will not allow this greatest evil by suffering it to go unpunished, and thus conniving at it (referring to Leviticus 19:29. App-92.
thine elder: or, thy greater.
daughters. Put by Figure of speech Prosopopoeia (App-6), for villages or neighbouring towns.
younger: or, lesser.
as if that were . . . thing. The Ellipsis is wrongly supplied. See further note
a very little = a very little time, or quickly. See note on "almost" (Proverbs 5:14).
as thou hast done. Sodom does not mean Jerusalem here, but it refers to the Sodom of Gen 19. Sodom had not Jerusalem's privileges: hence her transgression was less. Compare Ezekiel 16:46, and Matthew 11:20-24.
was = came to be.
abundance of = luxurious: i.e. security of ease. Compare Deuteronomy 11:21.
as I saw good. Some codices read "when I saw it", with margin "as thou sawest". Better to omit "good". Compare Genesis 18:21.
as = according to what.
When I: or, When therefore I.
bring again their captivity = restorethem; referring not to any return of captives, but to a restoration of prosperity. See notes on Deuteronomy 30:3, Job 42:10. Psalms 126:1.
Sodom. If the waters of the Dead Sea are to be healed, there is no reason why there should not be a restoration as here stated. Compare Ezekiel 47:8. Zechariah 14:8.
will I bring again. Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate read these words in the text.
discovered = unveiled.
as at the time of thy. Septuagint and Vulgate read "as now [thou] art". Compare Ezekiel 23:43.
Syria. Hebrew. aram. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "adam" = men (Daleth = D), being road for Resh = R).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "Adonai". App-4.
oath . . . covenant. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:12, Deuteronomy 29:14). These words are thus found together here, and in Ezekiel 17:13, Ezekiel 17:16, Ezekiel 17:18, Ezekiel 17:19; but nowhere else in Scripture.
am pacified toward thee = have accepted a propitiatory covering for thee.
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