Ezekiel 16:46

Authorized King James Version

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And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

Original Language Analysis

וַאֲחוֹתֵ֞ךְ sister H269
וַאֲחוֹתֵ֞ךְ sister
Strong's: H269
Word #: 1 of 15
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה And thine elder H1419
הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה And thine elder
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 2 of 15
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
שֹֽׁמְרוֹן֙ is Samaria H8111
שֹֽׁמְרוֹן֙ is Samaria
Strong's: H8111
Word #: 3 of 15
shomeron, a place in palestine
הִ֣יא H1931
הִ֣יא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 4 of 15
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וּבְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ and her daughters H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ and her daughters
Strong's: H1323
Word #: 5 of 15
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
הַיּוֹשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ that dwell H3427
הַיּוֹשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ that dwell
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 6 of 15
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 7 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שְׂמֹאולֵ֑ךְ at thy left hand H8040
שְׂמֹאולֵ֑ךְ at thy left hand
Strong's: H8040
Word #: 8 of 15
properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e., the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand
וַאֲחוֹתֵ֞ךְ sister H269
וַאֲחוֹתֵ֞ךְ sister
Strong's: H269
Word #: 9 of 15
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
הַקְּטַנָּ֣ה and thy younger H6996
הַקְּטַנָּ֣ה and thy younger
Strong's: H6996
Word #: 10 of 15
abbreviated, i.e., diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)
מִמֵּ֗ךְ H4480
מִמֵּ֗ךְ
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 11 of 15
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַיּוֹשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ that dwell H3427
הַיּוֹשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ that dwell
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 12 of 15
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
מִֽימִינֵ֔ךְ at thy right hand H3225
מִֽימִינֵ֔ךְ at thy right hand
Strong's: H3225
Word #: 13 of 15
the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
סְדֹ֖ם is Sodom H5467
סְדֹ֖ם is Sodom
Strong's: H5467
Word #: 14 of 15
sedom, a place near the dead sea
וּבְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ and her daughters H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ and her daughters
Strong's: H1323
Word #: 15 of 15
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

Thine elder sister is Samaria—the Northern Kingdom destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC for covenant unfaithfulness. At thy left hand (northward from Jerusalem) positions Samaria geographically and theologically. Thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom (southward)—the archetypal city of judgment destroyed by fire (Genesis 19).

This geographical-moral mapping creates a shocking tableau: Jerusalem stands between two destroyed cities representing God's judgment on apostasy and moral corruption. The Hebrew kinship terms achot (אָחוֹת, sister) implies shared character, not just proximity. By calling Sodom her 'younger sister,' the text suggests Jerusalem had even less excuse—Sodom lacked Jerusalem's revelation, temple, prophets, and covenant privileges. This verse sets up the devastating comparison in verses 47-52.

Historical Context

Samaria fell to Assyria in 722 BC for idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness (2 Kings 17). Ezekiel's audience (circa 590 BC) had witnessed this judgment. Sodom's destruction circa 2000 BC (Genesis 19) was legendary. Positioning Jerusalem between these judged cities would shock hearers—the holy city now morally aligned with history's most notorious examples of divine wrath.

Questions for Reflection

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