Ezekiel 16:6

“And when I passed by thee, &c.] Alluding to a traveller passing by where an infant lies, exposed, and looks upon it, and takes it up; or it may be to Pharaoh’s daughter walking by the river side, when she spied the ark in which Moses was, and ordered it to be taken up, and so saved his life: and saw thee in thine own blood; keeping up the simile of a newborn infant, that has nothing done to it, but is all over covered with menstruous blood; denoting the wretched and miserable estate the Jews were in when in Egypt; when they were not only loathsome and abominable to the Egyptians, and ill used and unpitied by them; but were in danger of being utterly destroyed, and ready to expire. The word…”

“when I passed by--as if a traveller. polluted in . . . blood--but PISCATOR, "ready to be trodden on." I said--In contrast to Israel's helplessness stands God's omnipotent word of grace which bids the outcast little one "live." in thy blood--Though thou wast foul with blood, I said, "Live" [GROTIUS]. "Live in thy blood," that is, Live, but live a life exposed to many deaths, as was the case in the beginnings of Israel's national existence, in order to magnify the grace of God [CALVIN]. The former view is preferable. Spiritually, till the sinner is made sensible of his abject helplessness, he will not appreciate the provisions of God's grace.”

“Or, Then I passed by thee ... and I said. Polluted - wallowing, “treading upon oneself.” In thy blood - may be connected either with “I said” or with “Live.” In the latter case, the state of blood and defilement is made the very cause of life, because it called forth the pity of Him who gave life. Since in the Mosaic Law “blood” was especially defiling, so was it also the special instrument of purification. return to 'Top of Page'”

“When I passed by - God here speaks after the manner of men. Live - This is such a command as sends forth a power to effect what is commanded; he gave that life: he spake, and it was done. Ezekiel 16:7”

“16:6-7 While Jerusalem was in a helpless and hopeless condition, the Lord intervened with his life-giving word. Without that, she would certainly have died. The Lord had no obligation to rescue this abandoned child, for she would simply have been one among many facing such a fate. Yet out of his grace and mercy, the Lord enabled her not merely to survive but to thrive. Instead of dying in the field, she grew up like a plant into maturity and beauty. The city of Jerusalem prospered before becoming an Israelite city, and it was the Lord’s doing.”

“and saw: Exo 2:24, Exo 2:25, Exo 3:7, Exo 3:8; Act 7:34 polluted: or, trodden under foot, Isa 14:19, Isa 51:23; Mic 7:10; Mat 5:13; Heb 10:29; Rev 14:20 Live: Eze 20:5-10; Exo 19:4-6; Deu 9:4; Psa 105:10-15, Psa 105:26-37; Joh 5:25; Rom 9:15; Eph 2:4, Eph 2:5; Tit 3:3-7 Ezekiel 16:7”

“Israel therefore owes its preservation and exaltation to honour and glory to the Lord its God alone. - Eze 16:6. Then I passed by thee, and saw thee stamping in thy blood, and said to thee, In thy blood live! and said to thee, In thy blood live! Eze 16:7. I made thee into myriads as the growth of the field, and thou grewest and becamest tall, and camest to ornament of cheeks. The breasts expanded, and thy hair grew, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Eze 16:8. And I passed by thee, and saw thee, and, behold, it was thy time, the time of love; and I spread my wing over thee, and covered thy nakedness; and I swore to thee, and entered into covenant with thee, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah,…”