Ezekiel 16:57

57 before your wickedness was exposed? It was like the time you were scorned by the daughters of Aram[a] and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines-those who treated you with contempt from every side.

Ezekiel 16:57 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 16:57

Before thy wickedness was discovered
By the punishment of it, by the judgments of God brought upon them; then they were humbled, who before were proud and haughty; and might speak and think of the vengeance of God on Sodom, which before they made no mention of. It is a sad thing only to know sin, and to have it discovered only by the punishment of it: as at the time of [thy] reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all
[that are] round about her, the daughters of the Philistines;
this seems to refer to the times of Ahaz, when the Syrians smote the men of Judah; and carried many of them captive; and the Philistines invaded the cities of the low country, and southern parts of Judah, and took many of them, ( 2 Chronicles 28:5 2 Chronicles 28:18 ) ; at which time the wickedness of the Jews was discovered; and it was a plain case they had sinned against the Lord, by his suffering their enemies to come upon them, and prevail over them; which was to their reproach. The Syrians reproached them, and so did the Philistines: which despise thee round about;
they spoiled and plundered them on all sides; and treated them with scorn and contempt, who before were formidable and terrible to them: thus it is with a people when they are left of God, they are despised by men.

Ezekiel 16:57 In-Context

55 As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state.
56 Didn't you treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn when you were proud,
57 before your wickedness was exposed? It was like the time you were scorned by the daughters of Aram and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines-those who treated you with contempt from every side.
58 You yourself must bear the consequences of your indecency and abominations"-the Lord's declaration.
59 "For this is what the Lord God says: I will deal with you according to what you have done, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Other Hb mss, Syr read Edom
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.