Ezekiel 16:52 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:52 mean?

Ezekiel 16:52 says that Jerusalem, after judging other cities for their sins, must now face its own shame because its actions have been even worse. The verse points out that Jerusalem’s “sisters” (other cities) are shown to be more righteous by comparison, and Jerusalem must accept its disgrace for having condemned them.

The prophet Ezekiel is speaking God’s message to Jerusalem, using the image of “sisters” to refer to neighboring cities like Samaria and Sodom. In this chapter, Jerusalem is confronted for being more corrupt than these other cities, even though it had looked down on them. The verse highlights the seriousness of Jerusalem’s guilt and the fairness of God’s judgment.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:52

• “Bear” (נָשָׂא, nāśā’) means to carry or endure. Here, it emphasizes that Jerusalem must personally accept and carry the weight of its own shame, not just point out the faults of others.
• “Shame” (כְּלִמָּה, kelimmāh) refers to disgrace or humiliation. The use of this word underlines the deep dishonor Jerusalem has brought upon itself.
• “Sins” (חַטָּאָה, ḥaṭṭā’āh) points to acts of wrongdoing. The verse stresses that Jerusalem’s sins are even more “abominable” (תָּעַב, tā‘av) than those of the cities it judged.
• “Righteous” (צָדַק, tsādaq) here means being in the right or more just. The verse does not claim the “sisters” are truly righteous, but that, by comparison, they are less guilty than Jerusalem.

Why Ezekiel 16:52 matters

• This verse corrects the idea that Jerusalem was morally superior to its neighbors; instead, it reveals that Jerusalem’s actions were even worse.
• Ezekiel 16:52 is part of a larger passage where God uses strong language to confront Jerusalem’s pride and hypocrisy, showing that judgment is fair and not based on favoritism.
• The verse helps readers understand the seriousness of self-righteousness and the danger of condemning others while ignoring one’s own faults.