Ezekiel 16:12

12 and I gave a ring on thy mouth, and circles to thine ears, and a crown of fairness in thine head. (and I put a ring in thy nose, and earrings on thy ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.)

Ezekiel 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 16:12

And I put a jewel on thy forehead
The same with the nose jewel, which was hung upon the forehead, and reached down to the nose and mouth; and, however disagreeable it may seem to us, was reckoned very ornamental in the eastern countries, ( Isaiah 3:21 ) ( Genesis 24:22 Genesis 24:47 ) ; and where now, as in Persia, as well as in all the Levant, the women put rings through their noses, which they pierce with needles, as Monsieur Thevenot ^F26 relates; so Dr. Shaw ^F1 says that nose jewels are used still by the Levant Arabs. The Targum applies it to the ark, thus,

``and I put the ark of my covenant among you;''

but may be better applied a public profession of religion, which every good man ought to make, and take up from principles of grace received; this is bearing the name of Christ and the name of his Father in their foreheads; which is very ornamental to the believer, and well pleasing to Christ, ( Romans 10:9 Romans 10:10 ) ( Revelation 14:1 ) ( Matthew 10:32 ) ; and earrings in thine ears.
The Targum is,

``and the clouds of my glory overshadowed you;''

but it may be better interpreted of the spiritual ears God gives his people in conversion; by which they hear his word, so as to understand it; hear the voice of Christ, so as to distinguish it from the voice of a stranger; and hear his Gospel, so as to believe and receive it, approve of it, and love it, and act in conformity to it: and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
The Targum paraphrases it thus,

``and an angel, sent from before me, led at the head of you:''

referring to ( Exodus 23:20 ) ; with which Jarchi compares ( Micah 2:13 ) but may be better illustrated by the beautiful crown of twelve stars, the doctrine of the twelve apostles of Christ, said to he upon the head of the church; and is upon the head of every believer that holds the mystery of the faith in pure conscience; that holds fast the faithful word, and will not let it go, that so no man may take away his crown, ( Revelation 12:1 ) ( 3:11 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Travels, par. 2. B. 2. c. 9. p. 94.
F1 Travels, p. 241. Ed. 2.

Ezekiel 16:12 In-Context

10 And I clothed thee with clothes of diverse colours, and I shodded thee in jacinth, and I girded thee with bis, [or white silk];

11 and I clothed thee with subtle things, and I adorned thee with ornament[s]. And I gave bands in thine hands (And I put bands on thy wrists), and a wreath about thy neck;

12 and I gave a ring on thy mouth, and circles to thine ears, and a crown of fairness in thine head. (and I put a ring in thy nose, and earrings on thy ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.)

13 And thou were adorned with gold and silver, and thou were clothed with bis, and ray-cloth with round images, and many colours. Thou atest clean flour of wheat, and honey, and oil, and thou were made fair full greatly; and thou increasedest into a realm (and thou hast increased into a kingdom/and thou hast become a queen),

14 and thy name went out into heathen men for thy fairness (and thy name went out to the heathen because of thy beauty); for thou were perfect in my fairness which I had set [up]on thee, saith the Lord God.