Ezekiel 16:48
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
Original Language Analysis
חַי
As I live
H2416
חַי
As I live
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
1 of 15
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 15
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
עָשִׂ֔ית
as thou hast done
H6213
עָשִׂ֔ית
as thou hast done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
7 of 15
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ
thy sister
H269
אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ
thy sister
Strong's:
H269
Word #:
9 of 15
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
הִ֖יא
H1931
הִ֖יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
10 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
וּבְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
she nor her daughters
H1323
וּבְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
she nor her daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
11 of 15
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Historical Context
Sodom's sins included violent gang rape (Genesis 19:4-9), pride, excess, and failure to help the poor (Ezekiel 16:49). Jerusalem committed temple prostitution, child sacrifice to Molech, shedding innocent blood, and exploiting the vulnerable—all while claiming covenant protection. The comparison would shock Ezekiel's audience, for whom Sodom represented irredeemable wickedness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus's use of Sodom in Matthew 11:20-24 reinforce this principle of proportionate judgment?
- What privileges of biblical knowledge and worship do we possess that increase our accountability?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
As I live, saith the Lord GOD—the Hebrew oath formula chai-ani (חַי־אָנִי) invokes God's own existence as guarantee of truth. This solemn oath introduces one of Scripture's most shocking statements: Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
This declaration would devastate Jerusalem's self-understanding. Sodom epitomized depravity worthy of fiery destruction (Genesis 19; Jude 7). For God to solemnly swear that Jerusalem exceeded Sodom's wickedness dismantles any claim to covenant immunity. The reference to 'daughters' (surrounding villages dependent on the main city) extends the indictment corporately. Jesus later echoed this principle, declaring Capernaum's judgment worse than Sodom's because of rejected light (Matthew 11:23-24).