The Church Fathers on this verse

Ezekiel 16:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty: for thou wast perfect through my beauty, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.

Douay-Rheims

וַיֵּ֨צֵא לָ֥ךְ שֵׁ֛ם בַּגּוֹיִ֖ם בְּיָפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּ֣י ׀ כָּלִ֣יל ה֗וּא בַּֽהֲדָרִי֙ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי עָלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

This passage is more plainly conveyed in the translation by Symmachus: And your name was proclaimed among the nations, which was made whole due to My honor, which I placed upon you, says the Lord God. The interpretation is as follows: through My blessings and abundant grace, you have been elevated to the title of queen, so that all nations have spoken of you, achieving perfection not through your own worthiness, but through My grace. For unless the Lord builds the house, it is futile for the builders to toil; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchmen keep vigil in vain (Ps. 126:1); neither is planting meaningful, nor is plowing, but it is God who gives growth (1 Cor. 3:7). It does not depend on human effort or will, but on the compassionate God (Rom.

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9:16), enabling us, after accomplishing all, to declare, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what we ought to do’ (Lk. 17:10). This is not to imply that human free will is annulled by divine grace, but rather that true freedom requires the Lord as its support.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Your name has spread throughout the world due to your goodness, gaining both fame and infamy. The reason for this is revealed: for you are truly beautiful in the grace I have imparted to you, says the Lord Adonai. I have been the source of your radiance, bestowing upon you the gift of sacred commandments and laws.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.