THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
God does not proclaim His nature without purpose; when people lack faith in Him, He weighs His blessings.
Ezekiel 16:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
I caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field: and thou didst increase and grow great, and advancedst, and camest to woman's ornament: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair grew: and thou was naked, and full of confusion.
רְבָבָ֗ה כְּצֶ֤מַח הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נְתַתִּ֔יךְ וַתִּרְבִּי֙ וַֽתִּגְדְּלִ֔י וַתָּבֹ֖אִי בַּעֲדִ֣י עֲדָיִ֑ים שָׁדַ֤יִם נָכֹ֙נוּ֙ וּשְׂעָרֵ֣ךְ צִמֵּ֔חַ וְאַ֖תְּ עֵרֹ֥ם וְעֶרְיָֽה׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Ephraem the Syrian
I proclaim to you, arise. You shall increase like a bountiful seed, multiplying abundantly, and you will take possession of the strongholds and cities of the Ammorites, inheriting them. You have matured and reached the age of youth.
Theodoret of Cyrus
You shall bear fruit abundantly, for I have bestowed upon you the seed of the community. When I perceived that you were tainted by the blood of idolatry and cherished the blood of offerings, I allowed you to present sacrifices—not to idols, but unto me. Indeed, God declared, "In thy blood is life," thus encouraging you to flourish within the bounds of the law, making offerings not to spirits, but to the Almighty. By following this path, you will resemble a thriving field, adorned with a variety of fruits. You shall be multiplied and honored, and you will enter the cities of your territories. My blessing, declares God, was complemented by the achievements themselves.
Read more (125 words)
I said, “As I have provided you with the seed of the village, you, having received this blessing, have also become numerous and great, glorious and renowned, with mighty cities under your reign.” Having outlined the beginnings and growth of Jerusalem, He further illustrates its expansion in detail. Your growth shall be abundant, and your lands shall be illuminated. He uses figurative language, drawing from the imagery of children to convey His generosity; when referring to “nipples,” He signifies the wisdom of your rational nature, as they protect the heart, and when He mentions “vines,” He points to the beauty that arises from perfection. Yet, you remain bare and lacking in splendor, says God, for you have not yet embraced the covering of the law.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Ex 1:7The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.
- Deut 1:10I alone am not able to bear you: for the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and you are this day as the stars of heaven, for multitude.
- Isa 62:3And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
- Ezek 16:10And I clothed thee with embroidery, and shod thee with violet coloured shoes: and I girded thee about with fine linen, and clothed thee with fine garments.
- Ezek 16:13And thou wast adorned with gold, and silver, and wast clothed with fine linen, and embroidered work, and many colours: thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil, and wast made exceeding beautiful: and wast advanced to be a queen.
- Ezek 16:22And after all thy abominations, and fornications, thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked, and full of confusion, trodden under foot in thy own blood.
- Ezek 16:16And taking of thy garments thou hast made thee high places sewed together on each side: and hast played the harlot upon them, as hath not been done before, nor shall be hereafter.
- Ps 148:14The praise of him is above heaven and earth: and he hath exalted the horn of his people. A hymn to all his saints to the children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia.