Ezekiel 16:52
Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
Original Language Analysis
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 20
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
וּשְׂאִ֣י
also and bear
H5375
וּשְׂאִ֣י
also and bear
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
3 of 20
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פִּלַּלְתְּ֙
Thou also which hast judged
H6419
פִּלַּלְתְּ֙
Thou also which hast judged
Strong's:
H6419
Word #:
6 of 20
to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
אַחְיוֹתֵֽךְ׃
thy sisters
H269
אַחְיוֹתֵֽךְ׃
thy sisters
Strong's:
H269
Word #:
7 of 20
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
בְּחַטֹּאתַ֛יִךְ
for thy sins
H2403
בְּחַטֹּאתַ֛יִךְ
for thy sins
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
8 of 20
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִתְעַ֥בְתְּ
that thou hast committed more abominable
H8581
הִתְעַ֥בְתְּ
that thou hast committed more abominable
Strong's:
H8581
Word #:
10 of 20
to loathe, i.e., (morally) detest
בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ
in that thou hast justified
H6663
בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ
in that thou hast justified
Strong's:
H6663
Word #:
12 of 20
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
מִמֵּ֑ךְ
H4480
מִמֵּ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
13 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְגַם
H1571
וְגַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
14 of 20
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
בּ֙וֹשִׁי֙
than thou yea be thou confounded
H954
בּ֙וֹשִׁי֙
than thou yea be thou confounded
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
וּשְׂאִ֣י
also and bear
H5375
וּשְׂאִ֣י
also and bear
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
17 of 20
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
Historical Context
First-century Pharisees exhibited identical self-righteous judgment while transgressing God's law (Matthew 23). Jesus's parable of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) and his confrontation with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) illustrate the principle of this verse—those who judge others while sinning themselves receive greater condemnation.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas are you tempted to judge others while committing 'more abominable' sins yourself?
- How does understanding that 'they are more righteous than thou' function to humble self-righteousness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters—Jerusalem had smugly condemned Samaria and Sodom while committing worse sins (cf. Matthew 7:1-5). Bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they—the Hebrew kelimmah (כְּלִמָּה, shame) denotes public humiliation and disgrace. Jerusalem must now experience the covenant curse of shame she self-righteously pronounced on others.
They are more righteous than thou (צָדְקוּ מִמֵּךְ)—a comparative, not absolute, righteousness. Sodom and Samaria remain wicked cities under judgment, but Jerusalem's greater light makes her wickedness comparatively worse. Yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters—the Hebrew bosh (בּוֹשׁ, confounded) means ashamed, humiliated. Jerusalem's self-righteous judging while exceeding in wickedness brings double shame: for her sins and for her hypocrisy.