THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
You are the sister of your siblings and those who reside across the river, specifically from Samaria and the tribes beyond the Jordan. Your mother is a Hittite, and your father is an Amorite, not Rebekah or Isaac.
Ezekiel 16:45Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
Thou art thy mother's daughter, that cast off her husband, and her children: and thou art the sister of thy sisters, who cast off their husbands, and their children: your mother was a Cethite, and your father an Amorrhite.
בַּת־אִמֵּ֣ךְ אַ֔תְּ גֹּעֶ֥לֶת אִישָׁ֖הּ וּבָנֶ֑יהָ וַאֲח֨וֹת אֲחוֹתֵ֜ךְ אַ֗תְּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר גָּֽעֲ֙לוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ן וּבְנֵיהֶ֔ן אִמְּכֶ֣ן חִתִּ֔ית וַאֲבִיכֶ֖ן אֱמֹרִֽי׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
You are the daughter of your mother who has rejected her husband and her children, and you are the sister of your sister who has also denied her husband and her children. This demonstrates that He is not solely the God of the Jews but also of the Gentiles, for He was recognized as their God long before they fell into the sin of idolatry. He stated that they denied their husbands and children by rejecting God and began offering their children to false gods. He clarifies His message further: your mother is a Hittite, and your father is an Amorite. Your eldest sister is Samaria, with her sons and her dwelling beside you; your youngest sister is Sodom, with her sons and her dwelling on your right side.
Read more (134 words)
Samaria is referred to as the eldest sister, not in terms of chronological age but due to her doctrine of iniquity, as she predates Sodom historically. However, Jerusalem was initially envious of the actions of Samaria and subsequently spread her wickedness until she resembled the cities of Sodom. Sodom is referred to as the younger sister because Jerusalem later embraced an association with it; God identified this association in wickedness as kinship. It is noted that "on the right hand" refers to geographical positioning; in Jerusalem, when one faces east, Sodom lies to the right, towards the south, while Samaria is to the left, towards the north. The inhabitants of the cities and villages under their influence are called the daughters of Samaria and Sodom. To emphasize the depth of depravity, He further stated:
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Isa 1:4Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards.
- Zech 11:8And I cut off three shepherds in one month, and my soul was straitened in their regard: for their soul also varied in my regard.
- Ezek 16:15But trusting in thy beauty, thou playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and thou hast prostituted thyself to every passenger, to be his.
- Ezek 23:37Because they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and they have committed fornication with their idols: moreover also their children, whom they bore to me, they have offered to them to be devoured.
- Ezek 23:39And when they sacrificed their children to their idols, and went into my sanctuary the same day to profane it: they did these things even in the midst of my house.
- Ezek 23:2Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother.
- Ezek 16:8And I passed by thee, and saw thee: and behold thy time was the time of lovers: and I spread my garment over thee, and covered thy ignominy. and I swore to thee, and I entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God: and thou becamest mine.
- Deut 12:31Thou shalt not do in like manner to the Lord thy God. For they have done to their gods all the abominations which the Lord abhorreth, offering their sons and daughters, and burning them with fire.