Ezekiel 16:56

56 Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth 1in the day of your pride,

Ezekiel 16:56 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 16:56

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth
Or, "was not for a hearing", or "a report, in thy mouth" F7; the destruction of Sodom, though it was such an awful judgment of God, so flagrant and notorious, was visible and just at hand; yet it was not taken notice of, nor talked of; it was not the subject of conversation among friends; it was not reported from father to son, or heard of the one by the other; it was not regarded, nor was warning taken by it, which might have been, had it been more frequently mentioned; but they did not care, or neglected to speak of it; though it was "an ensample to those that should after live ungodly", ( 2 Peter 2:6 ) ; yet it was not for instruction to them, as the Targum paraphrases it; they learned nothing by it; or Sodom was so infamous for sin and punishment, that they scorned to make mention of its name; and yet they were as great Or greater sinners, and deserving of sorer punishment: in the day of thy pride;
or "prides", or "excellencies" F8; in the time of their prosperity, in the days of David and Solomon, and other kings of Judah. Prosperity is apt to make men proud, and to lift them above themselves; and to forget what they have been, and what they may be; and to neglect observing the judgments of God on others, and to take warning by them.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (Kypb hewmvl) "in auditu in ore tuo", Pagninus, Montanus; "in auditum", Vatablus.
F8 (Kynwag Mwyb) "in die superbiarum tuarum", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin; "in die excellentiarum tuarum", Piscator; "in die erectionum tuarum", Cocceius, Starckius.

Ezekiel 16:56 In-Context

54 that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have done, becoming a consolation to them.
55 As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former state, and you and your daughters shall return to your former state.
56 Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the day of your pride,
57 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.
58 You bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD.

Cross References 1

  • 1. See Isaiah 2:6-11
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.