Ezekiel 16:57

57 before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere.

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 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state.
56 For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride,
57 before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere.
58 You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations," says the Lord.
59 For thus says the Lord God: "I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read Edom.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.