Ezekiel 16:43 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.

Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth - (Ezekiel 16:22; Psalms 78:42, "They remembered not His hand, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy"). A fertile source of her sin was ingratitude for God's favours to her in her early history.

But hast fretted me - (Isaiah 63:10, "They rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit;" Ephesians 4:30, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God").

Thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations - i:e., this the wickedness (cf. Zechariah 5:8) peculiarly hateful to God-namely, spiritual unchastity or idolatry, over and "above" (i:e., besides) all thine other abominations. I will put it out of thy power to commit it, by cutting thee off. Fairbairn translates, "I will not do what is scandalous (namely, encouraging thee in thy sin by letting it pass with impunity) upon all thine abominations; referring to Leviticus 19:29, the conduct of a father who encouraged his daughter in harlotry. The English version is much better.

Ezekiel 16:43

43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.