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 16:46KJV
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Ezekiel 16:46 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:46 mean?

Ezekiel 16:46 says that Jerusalem is like a middle sister, with Samaria as her older sister and Sodom as her younger sister, each with their own "daughters" (smaller towns or people connected to them), living on either side of her. The verse uses family language to show how Jerusalem is related to these other cities, both in location and in behavior.

In this verse, God is speaking to Jerusalem through the prophet Ezekiel. God is comparing Jerusalem to Samaria (to the north) and Sodom (to the south), two cities known for their wrongdoing and eventual destruction. By calling them "sisters," God is highlighting that Jerusalem shares in their guilt and is not set apart from their failures, despite what the people might have thought.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:46

  • "Elder" (גָּדוֹל, gadol; H1419) and "younger" (קָטָן, qatan; H6996) are used to describe Samaria and Sodom in relation to Jerusalem, not by age but by status or position, emphasizing a family hierarchy.
  • "Sister" (אָחוֹת, achot; H269) is used for all three cities, making the comparison more personal and direct, suggesting shared traits or destinies.
  • "Daughters" (בַּת, bat; H1323) refers to the smaller towns or settlements associated with each main city, showing the broader influence and community around each.
  • "Hand" (שְׂמֹאל, semol; H8040 for "left" and יָמִין, yamin; H3225 for "right") is a Hebrew way of describing direction, with Samaria to the left (north) and Sodom to the right (south) from Jerusalem’s perspective.

Why Ezekiel 16:46 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Jerusalem was uniquely righteous; instead, it places Jerusalem in the same group as two famously sinful cities, showing that God sees their actions as similar.
  • The family language makes the point more vivid, showing that Jerusalem cannot claim innocence by association or geography.
  • In the wider passage, this comparison sets up a strong warning: if God judged Samaria and Sodom, Jerusalem should not expect to escape judgment for similar behavior.