Ezekiel 16:27
Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.
Original Language Analysis
נָטִ֤יתִי
Behold therefore I have stretched out
H5186
נָטִ֤יתִי
Behold therefore I have stretched out
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
2 of 14
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
יָדִי֙
my hand
H3027
יָדִי֙
my hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 14
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עָלַ֔יִךְ
H5921
עָלַ֔יִךְ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וָאֶגְרַ֖ע
over thee and have diminished
H1639
וָאֶגְרַ֖ע
over thee and have diminished
Strong's:
H1639
Word #:
5 of 14
to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold
חֻקֵּ֑ךְ
thine ordinary
H2706
חֻקֵּ֑ךְ
thine ordinary
Strong's:
H2706
Word #:
6 of 14
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
וָאֶתְּנֵ֞ךְ
food and delivered
H5414
וָאֶתְּנֵ֞ךְ
food and delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
7 of 14
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ
thee unto the will
H5315
בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ
thee unto the will
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
8 of 14
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
בְּנ֣וֹת
thee the daughters
H1323
בְּנ֣וֹת
thee the daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
10 of 14
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
of the Philistines
H6430
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
of the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
11 of 14
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
הַנִּכְלָמ֖וֹת
which are ashamed
H3637
הַנִּכְלָמ֖וֹת
which are ashamed
Strong's:
H3637
Word #:
12 of 14
properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult
Cross References
Isaiah 9:12The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.Ezekiel 16:57Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.Ezekiel 16:37Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.
Historical Context
This likely refers to Philistine invasions during Ahaz's reign (2 Chronicles 28:18), when Judah lost territory and tribute. The Philistines, traditional enemies since Judges, seized Judean cities. That pagan nations found Israel's religious syncretism shameful highlights the depth of Judah's corruption—worse than surrounding idolaters.
Questions for Reflection
- Has your witness become so compromised that even non-Christians are scandalized by your behavior or the church's actions?
- What does it reveal about church culture when secular society exhibits more moral outrage over injustice than believers?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food—The Hebrew natah yad (נָטָה יָד, stretched out hand) signals covenant judgment. God's hand stretched out in blessing becomes outstretched in discipline. Diminished thine ordinary food (chok, חֹק, appointed portion) refers to reducing Jerusalem's territorial holdings and economic prosperity.
Delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way—Devastating irony: even pagans were scandalized by Jerusalem's apostasy. The Philistines (benoth Pelishtim, בְּנוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים, daughters of Philistines) represent Israel's ancient enemies, yet they exhibit more moral shame than covenant Jerusalem. When the world is shocked by the church's sin, judgment is imminent (1 Peter 4:17-18).