Ezekiel 16:52

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
גַּם
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#2
אַ֣תְּ׀
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#3
וּשְׂאִ֣י
also and bear
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#4
כְלִמָּתֵ֔ךְ
thine own shame
disgrace
#5
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#6
פִּלַּלְתְּ֙
Thou also which hast judged
to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
#7
אַחְיוֹתֵֽךְ׃
thy sisters
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
#8
בְּחַטֹּאתַ֛יִךְ
for thy sins
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
#9
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#10
הִתְעַ֥בְתְּ
that thou hast committed more abominable
to loathe, i.e., (morally) detest
#11
מֵהֵ֖ן
than they
they (only used when emphatic)
#12
בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ
in that thou hast justified
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
#13
מִמֵּ֑ךְ
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#14
וְגַם
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#15
אַ֥תְּ
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#16
בּ֙וֹשִׁי֙
than thou yea be thou confounded
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
#17
וּשְׂאִ֣י
also and bear
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#18
כְלִמָּתֵ֔ךְ
thine own shame
disgrace
#19
בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ
in that thou hast justified
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
#20
אַחְיוֹתֵֽךְ׃
thy sisters
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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