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Ezekiel 16:7

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 16:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I caused thee to multiply as that which groweth in the field, and thou didst increase and wax great, and thou attainedst to excellent ornament; thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I caused thee to multiply as that which groweth in the field, and thou didst increase and wax great, and thou attainedst to excellent ornament; thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.
Ezekiel 16:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to cleanse thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
5No eye pitied thee, to do any of these things unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, for that thy person was abhorred, in the day that thou wast born.
6And when I passed by thee, and saw thee weltering in thy blood, I said unto thee, [Though thou art] in thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee, [Though thou art] in thy blood, live.
7I caused thee to multiply as that which groweth in the field, and thou didst increase and wax great, and thou attainedst to excellent ornament; thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.
8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Jehovah, and thou becamest mine.
9Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
10I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk.
← Ezekiel 16:6Ezekiel 16:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, &c.] Or, “made thee millions”f202; like the spires of grass in the field. This refers to the multiplication of the children of Israel in Egypt, especially after the death of Joseph, and even while they were sorely afflicted, and likewise in later times. Jacob went down to Egypt with seventy five persons only, but when his posterity returned from thence, they were above six hundred thousand that were able to go forth to war, (<014627>Genesis 46:27 <040146>Numbers 1:46); (see <020107>Exodus 1:7,12); and thou hast increased and waxed great; and became large families, kindreds, and tribes, as the Targum interprets it; as a child grows up,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“caused . . . to multiply--literally, "I . . . made thee a myriad." bud of . . . field--the produce of the field. In two hundred fifty years they increased from seventy-five persons to eight hundred thousand (Act 7:14) [CALVIN]. But see Exo 12:37-38. excellent ornaments--literally, "ornament of ornaments." naked . . . bare-- (Hos 2:3). Literally, "nakedness . . . bareness" itself; more emphatic.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I caused “thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou” didst increase “and” wax “great, and thou” didst come “to excellent” beauty; “thy breasts” were “fashioned and thine hair” was grown, yet wast “thou naked and bare.” The prophet has arrived at the time at which the child grew up to maturity. God preserved the life of the infant which must without His help have died Ezekiel 16:6; and the child grew up to womanhood, but was still desolate and unprotected. This represents the sojourn in Egypt, during which the people increased, but were not bound, as a nation, to God by a covenant. Excellent ornaments - literally, as in the margin. Some render it: “ornament of cheeks,” i. e., beauty…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou art come - Thou wast adorned with the choicest blessings of Divine Providence. Thy breasts - Grown up and fashioned under God's own hand in order to be solemnly affianced to God. Ezekiel 16:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“caused: etc. Heb. made thee a million, Gen 22:17; Exo 1:7, Exo 12:37; Act 7:17 excellent ornaments: Heb. ornament of ornaments, Eze 16:10-13, Eze 16:16; Exo 3:22; Deu 1:10, Deu 4:8, Deu 32:10-14, Deu 33:26-29; Neh 9:18-25; Psa 135:4, Psa 147:20, Psa 148:14, Psa 149:2-4; Isa 61:10, Isa 62:3 whereas: Eze 16:22; Job 1:21; Sol 4:5; Hos 2:3, Hos 2:9, Hos 2:10; Rev 3:17, Rev 3:18 Ezekiel 16:8”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification