What does Ezekiel 16:46 mean?

"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." - Ezekiel 16:46

"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." - Ezekiel 16:46

Ezekiel 16:46 (KJV) "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."

In order to truly understand the meaning and significance of Ezekiel 16:46, it is important to first look at the context in which it is found. The book of Ezekiel is filled with vivid imagery and prophetic warnings to the people of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel was called by God to deliver messages of judgment, warning, and hope to the rebellious Israelites who had turned away from God and were experiencing the consequences of their actions.

In Ezekiel 16, the prophet is using the metaphor of an unfaithful wife to describe the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel to their covenant with God. In verses 1-43, Ezekiel paints a graphic and disturbing picture of Israel's spiritual adultery, likening it to a promiscuous woman who has turned away from her husband (God) and pursued other lovers (idolatry and false gods). The chapter is a scathing indictment of Israel's faithlessness and rebellion against God.

In verse 46, Ezekiel refers to Samaria as the "elder sister" and Sodom as the "younger sister." This symbolism is significant in understanding the broader message of the verse. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, while Sodom was a city known for its wickedness and moral depravity in the Old Testament. By likening Samaria and Sodom to sisters, Ezekiel is drawing a parallel between the sins of these cities and the sins of Israel.

The imagery of the "elder sister" and "younger sister" also serves to highlight the severity of Israel's sins. Samaria, as the older sister, had already been judged and punished for her unfaithfulness to God. The northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and its people taken into captivity by the Assyrians. Sodom, as the younger sister, represents the impending judgment and destruction that awaits the southern kingdom of Judah if they do not repent and turn back to God.

The verse serves as a warning to the people of Judah, reminding them of the fate of their sister city Samaria and the infamous city of Sodom. It is a call to repentance and a plea for them to avoid the same fate by turning away from their sins and returning to a faithful relationship with God.

Overall, Ezekiel 16:46 is a powerful reminder of the consequences of unfaithfulness and disobedience to God. The verse uses the vivid imagery of "sisters" Samaria and Sodom to convey the severity of Israel's sins and the impending judgment that awaits them if they do not change their ways. It serves as a timeless lesson on the importance of faithfulness, repentance, and the enduring mercy of God.

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Ezekiel 16:46 Artwork

Ezekiel 16:46 - "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."

Ezekiel 16:46 - "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."

"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." - Ezekiel 16:46

"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." - Ezekiel 16:46

Ezekiel 46:16 - "¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance."

Ezekiel 46:16 - "¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance."

Ezekiel 46:24 - "Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people."

Ezekiel 46:24 - "Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people."

Ezekiel 23:46 - "For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled."

Ezekiel 23:46 - "For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled."

Ezekiel 46:15 - "Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering."

Ezekiel 46:15 - "Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering."

Ezekiel 46:3 - "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons."

Ezekiel 46:3 - "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons."

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Genesis 46:16 - "¶ And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli."

Genesis 46:16 - "¶ And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli."

Ezekiel 46:22 - "In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure."

Ezekiel 46:22 - "In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure."

Ezekiel 46:23 - "And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about."

Ezekiel 46:23 - "And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about."

"¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance." - Ezekiel 46:16

"¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance." - Ezekiel 46:16

Ezekiel 46:10 - "And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth."

Ezekiel 46:10 - "And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth."

Ezekiel 20:46 - "Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;"

Ezekiel 20:46 - "Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;"

Ezekiel 46:6 - "And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish."

Ezekiel 46:6 - "And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish."

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 46:13 - "Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning."

Ezekiel 46:13 - "Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning."

Ezekiel 46:5 - "And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah."

Ezekiel 46:5 - "And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah."

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 46:7 - "And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah."

Ezekiel 46:7 - "And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah."

Ezekiel 46:11 - "And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah."

Ezekiel 46:11 - "And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah."

Ezekiel 46:8 - "And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof."

Ezekiel 46:8 - "And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof."

Ezekiel 46:21 - "Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court."

Ezekiel 46:21 - "Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court."

Ezekiel 46:4 - "And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish."

Ezekiel 46:4 - "And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish."

Ezekiel 40:46 - "And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him."

Ezekiel 40:46 - "And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him."

Ezekiel 46:19 - "¶ After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward."

Ezekiel 46:19 - "¶ After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward."

"¶ And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli." - Genesis 46:16

"¶ And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli." - Genesis 46:16

Ezekiel 46:17 - "But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them."

Ezekiel 46:17 - "But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them."