I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck. I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.
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Ezekiel 16:11-13 sits inside this longer paragraph.
“ ‘ “Then washed I you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck. I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate. Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord Yahweh.
Parallel Translations
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I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck.
I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.
-
I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Show all 3 translations
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I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
And I put a ring upon thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and richly woven work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and thou didst wax exceeding beautiful, and thou wast meet for royal estate.
Cross-references (52)
- Genesis 24:22 (v11) As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight…
- Isaiah 3:19 (v11) the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
- Genesis 24:47 (v11) I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring…
- Genesis 41:42 (v11) Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain…
- Deuteronomy 32:13-14 (v13) He made him ride on the high places of the earth. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of…
Show all 50 cross-references
- 1 Kings 4:21 (v13) Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and…
- Psalms 50:2 (v13) Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines out.
- Proverbs 1:9 (v11) for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
- Isaiah 3:21 (vv11–12) the signet rings, the nose rings,
- Psalms 48:2 (v13) Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north sides, the city of the great King.
- Ezekiel 23:42 (v11) “The voice of a multitude being at ease was with her. With men of the common sort were brought drunkards from the wilderness; and they put…
- Isaiah 28:5 (vv11–12) In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the residue of his people,
- Numbers 31:50 (v11) We have brought Yahweh’s offering, what every man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make…
- Psalms 45:13-14 (v13) The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins,…
- Ezekiel 16:19 (v13) My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you even set it before them for a pleasant aroma; and so…
- Revelation 4:10 (v11) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns…
- Genesis 17:6 (v13) I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
- Genesis 24:53 (v11) The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her…
- Genesis 35:4 (v11) They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak…
- Exodus 32:2 (v11) Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to…
- Exodus 35:22 (v11) They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of…
- Leviticus 8:9 (v11) He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Deuteronomy 8:8 (v13) a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey;
- Judges 8:24 (v11) Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because…
- 1 Samuel 10:1 (v13) Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahweh anointed you to be prince over his…
- 1 Samuel 12:12 (v13) “When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us;’ when…
- 2 Samuel 8:15 (v13) David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
- Ezra 4:20 (v13) There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was…
- Ezra 5:11 (v13) Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these…
- Esther 2:17 (v11) The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set…
- Job 42:11 (v11) Then came there to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him…
- Psalms 81:16 (v13) But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”
- Psalms 147:14 (v13) He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
- Proverbs 4:9 (v11) She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
- Proverbs 25:12 (v11) As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
- Song of Solomon 1:10 (v11) Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
- Song of Solomon 4:9 (v11) You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck.
- Isaiah 64:11 (v13) Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised you is burned with fire. All our pleasant places are laid waste.
- Jeremiah 13:20 (v13) Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?
- Lamentations 2:15 (v13) All that pass by clap their hands at you. They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, “Is this the city that men…
- Lamentations 5:16 (v11) The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
- Ezekiel 16:14-15 (v13) Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord…
- Ezekiel 23:40 (v11) “Furthermore you sisters have sent for men who come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came; for whom you washed…
- Daniel 5:7 (v11) The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon,…
- Daniel 5:16 (v11) But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts. Now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its…
- Daniel 5:29 (v11) Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning…
- Hosea 2:5 (v13) For their mother has played the prostitute. She who conceived them has done shamefully; for she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give…
- Hosea 2:13 (v11) I will visit on her the days of the Baals, to which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went…
- Revelation 2:10 (v11) Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be…
- Revelation 4:4 (v11) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold…
50 distinct cross-references across this passage (52 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On v13 If any one makes any inquiry about these various…
If any one makes any inquiry about these various kinds of dresses, whether it was lawful for women to use so many ornaments, the answer is easy, that the Prophet here does not approve of what he relates, but uses a common image. We said that his only intention was to show that God could not have treated his people more freely; since in every way he had unfolded the incomparable treasures of his beneficence in adorning the Israelites. He now describes this in a metaphor, and under figures taken from the common practice everywhere received. It does not follow, therefore, that women ought to adorn themselves in this way. For we know that superfluous ornaments are temptations; and we know also the vanity of women, and their ambition to show themselves off, as the saying is: and we see how sharply this eager desire of women is blamed, especially by Isaiah. (Isaiah 3.) But it is sufficient to elicit what God wished to teach by these figures, namely, that he had not omitted any kind of liberality. Whence it follows, that the people’s ingratitude was the less excusable, as Ezekiel will immediately add. But before we proceed further, we must turn this instruction to our use. What has hitherto been said of the Israelites does not suit us, I confess, in all things: but yet there is some likeness between us and them. If we reflect upon our origin, we are all born children of wrath, all cursed, all Satan’s bondsmen, (Ephesians 2:3;) and although many have been well brought up, yet as to our spiritual state we are like infant children or the new-born babe, exposed and immersed in its own filth and corruption. For what can be found in man before his renewal but the curse of God? Hence we are such slaves of Satan, that God hates us, as it is said in Genesis, (Genesis 6:7,) I repent of having formed man; where he does not acknowledge his image in us, which is not only defiled by original sin, but is all but extinct, surely this is the height of deformity: and though we do not perceive what is said by our senses, yet we are sufficiently detestable before God and the angels. We have no cause, then, to please ourselves; nay, if we open our eyes, the foulness which I have mentioned will be sufficiently clear to us. Meanwhile, God so aided us that he truly fulfilled what Ezekiel relates. For although we were not freed from any external tyranny, yet God espoused us: then he adopted us into his Church: this was our greatest honor; this was more than royal dignity. We see, then, that this instruction is useful for us also at this time, if we only consider in what we are like the ancient people. I had almost omitted one point — the nourishment. God here not only reminds them that he had adorned the people with various kinds of clothing, and necklaces, and gems, and silver; but he adds also, you did eat fine flour, or fine meal, and honey and oil, and you was very beautiful, and proceeded prosperously, even to a kingdom. Here God again commends and extols his beneficence, because he not only clothed sumptuously his spouse of whom he speaks, but also fed her plentifully with the best, and sweetest, and most delicate food. He puts only three species: he makes no mention of will or flesh; but by fine flour he means that they lacked no delicacy: the oil and honey mean the same thing. This clause points out an accumulation of grace when he says that they progressed happily even to a kingdom: all God’s benefits could not be recounted: he says that his bride was not only magnificently clothed and delicately brought up, but that she proceeded even to the royal dignity. In the next verse he still reminds them of his benefits.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v12 Hereby he showeth how he saved his Church, enriched…
Hereby he showeth how he saved his Church, enriched it, and gave it power and dominion to reign.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Eze 16:11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and…
Eze 16:11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Ver. 11. I decked thee also with ornaments.] See Eze 16:7; such as render thee amiable and admirable. Christ himself, who was not moved at all with the offer of all the world’s good, {Mat 4:9-10} confesseth himself ravished with them. {Son 4:9}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv11–13 If the inventory of this virgin’s goods given to…
If the inventory of this virgin’s goods given to her were hitherto of such things as were needful for her comfort, now follows a particular of what served for state and magnificence, as the phrase Job 40:10; it also expresseth the bravery of a bridegroom, Isa 61:10; the curiosity and exactness wherewith such do dress themselves.
I put, Heb. I gave, i.e. freely.
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Bracelets; which usually were of gold, as appears, Gen 24:22, and presents made of these bespeak greatest respects.
A chain of gold, in token of honour and authority, Gen 41:42; Dan 5:16.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv11–13 And I put a jewel on thy forehead,.... The…
And I put a jewel on thy forehead,.... The same with the nose jewel, which was hung upon the forehead, and reached down to the nose and mouth; and, however disagreeable it may seem to us, was reckoned very ornamental in the eastern countries, Isa 3:21; and where now, as in Persia, as well as in all the Levant, the women put rings through their noses, which they pierce with needles, as Monsieur Thevenot (z) relates; so Dr. Shaw (a) says that nose jewels are used still by the Levant Arabs. The Targum applies it to the ark, thus,
"and I put the ark of my covenant among you;''
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but may be better applied a public profession of religion, which every good man ought to make, and take up from principles of grace received; this is bearing the name of Christ and the name of his Father in their foreheads; which is very ornamental to the believer, and well pleasing to Christ, Rom 10:9;
and earrings in thine ears. The Targum is,
"and the clouds of my glory overshadowed you;''
but it may be better interpreted of the spiritual ears God gives his people in conversion; by which they hear his word, so as to understand it; hear the voice of Christ, so as to distinguish it from the voice of a stranger; and hear his Gospel, so as to believe and receive it, approve of it, and love it, and act in conformity to it:
and a beautiful crown upon thine head. The Targum paraphrases it thus,
"and an angel, sent from before me, led at the head of you:''
referring to Exo 23:20; with which Jarchi compares Mic 2:13 but may be better illustrated by the beautiful crown of twelve stars, the doctrine of the twelve apostles of Christ, said to he upon the head of the church; and is upon the head of every believer that holds the mystery of the faith in pure conscience; that holds fast the faithful word, and will not let it go, that so no man may take away his crown, Rev 12:1.
(z) Travels, par. 2. B. 2. c. 9. p. 94. (a) Travels, p. 241. Ed. 2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v11 A chain - Of gold, in token of honour…
A chain - Of gold, in token of honour and authority.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv12–13 Verse 12. I put a jewel on thy forehead]…
Verse 12. I put a jewel on thy forehead] על אפך al appech, upon thy nose. This is one of the most common ornaments among ladies in the east. European translators, not knowing what to make of a ring in the nose, have rendered it, a jewel on thy forehead or mouth, (though they have sometimes a piece of gold or jewel fastened to the centre of their forehead.) I have already spoken of this Asiatic custom, so often referred to in the sacred writings: see Ge 24:22; Ge 24:42; Ex 32:2; Job 42:11; Pr 11:22; Isa 3:21; Ho 2:13.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v13 Eze 16:13-14. Thus wast thou decked with gold, &c.…
Eze 16:13-14. Thus wast thou decked with gold, &c. — With ornaments the most costly and splendid. And thy raiment was of fine linen, &c. — Which was of the manufacture of Egypt, and one of the principal ornaments of women, as well as of great men. Thou didst eat fine flour, honey, and oil — Thy country afforded all manner of plenty and delicacies: see Deu 32:13-14. Thou wast exceeding beautiful — This may refer to the beauty of the buildings of Jerusalem, and in particular of the temple. And thou didst prosper into a kingdom — Thou didst increase in majesty and dominion, and became superior to the nations around. Bishop Newcome renders this clause, Thou didst prosper into a queen, that is, didst become the reigning city, the mistress of many subject provinces. And thy renown went forth, &c., for thy beauty — Through thy power and riches thou wast able to procure every thing beautiful and desirable, so that thou didst soon become famous among the heathen nations around; or, perhaps, the words may refer to the excellent laws by which they were governed, and the various privileges of their church and state, which rendered their nation more perfect in beauty than any other in the world. Indeed, we can name nothing that would be to the honour of a people, but it was found in Israel in David and Solomon’s time, when that kingdom was in its zenith of prosperity, power, and glory; piety, learning, wisdom, justice, victory, peace, wealth, were found there in perfection, and all sure to continue if they had kept close to God. It was perfect, saith God, through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee — That is, through the beauty of their holiness, as they were a people devoted to God. This was it that put a lustre upon all their other honours, and was indeed the perfection of their beauty. Observe, reader, sanctified souls are truly beautiful in God’s sight, and they themselves may take the comfort of it; but God must have all the glory, for whatever comeliness they have is that which God has put upon them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv12–13 A jewel on thy forehead - literally, “a nose-ring…
A jewel on thy forehead - literally, “a nose-ring on thy nostril” (Gen 24:22 note).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv12–13 Forehead. Literally, "mouth." Hebrew, "nose." (Haydock) --- Women wore…
Forehead. Literally, "mouth." Hebrew, "nose." (Haydock) --- Women wore rings where spectacles are placed, and had others hung at their noses, so as to touch the mouth. People who are not acquainted with this odd custom, which is still prevalent in Africa and Asia, suppose that the ornament hung upon the forehead, as St. Jerome does. See Genesis xxiv. 22. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv11–13 The marriage gifts to Rebekah (Gen 24:22, Gen 24:47).
The marriage gifts to Rebekah (Gen 24:22, Gen 24:47).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv12–13 12. A jewel on thy forehead — Literally, ring…
12. A jewel on thy forehead — Literally, ring upon thy nose. (See Isa_3:21; Gen_24:47; Hos_2:13.) For other articles of jewelry mentioned see Gen_24:22; Gen_24:47; Gen_41:42; Num_31:50; Pro_1:9; Pro_3:3.
A beautiful crown — This has reference probably to the marriage crown. It is even yet used in Palestine. It is the wife’s dowry, and the treasures of which it is composed cannot be touched by any creditor.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv11–13 11. On bracelets, cf. Gen_24:22; Gen_24:47. On chain or…
11. On bracelets, cf. Gen_24:22; Gen_24:47. On chain or necklace, Gen_41:42; Pro_1:9; Pro_3:3.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv11–12 (11-14) In these verses the Divinely-given prosperity and glory…
(11-14) In these verses the Divinely-given prosperity and glory of Israel is set forth under the sustained figure of the ornaments and food of a royal eastern bride. The various particulars mentioned are familiar to all readers of the Scripture histories. The latter part of Eze_16:13 and Eze_16:14 evidently refer to the times of David and Solomon, when the kingdom of Israel extended from the Euphrates to the “river of Egypt,” and very many of the surrounding kingdoms were made tributary. Israel then was renowned among the heathen, but its glory was pre-eminently as the nation of Jehovah, “through my comeliness which I had put upon thee.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Ornaments. Same word as in ver. 7, but here…
Ornaments. Same word as in ver. 7, but here taken in its more usual sense. (For bracelets, see Eze_23:42; Gen_24:22, Gen_24:30; Num_31:50) For chain. (Gen_41:42)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v13 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues to speak about Jerusalem as if the city were a young woman. The city represents the people who live there. (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)
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you were adorned with gold and silver, and you were dressed in fine linen
This can be stated in active form. AT: "I adorned you with gold and silver, and dressed you in fine linen" (See: Active or Passive)
Your fame went out among the nations
"Many people in many nations knew who you were"
it was perfect
"your beauty was perfect"
translationWords
honey
oil
queen
nation
perfect
majesty
Lord Yahweh
declare
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v11 16:11-14 She was adorned with jewelry and fed with…
16:11-14 She was adorned with jewelry and fed with the very finest foods. She was known throughout the world for her beauty and splendor—both gifts from the Lord.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.