Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:14
And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it [was] perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
14. Her renown spread among the nations because of her beauty. In this is included partly the prosperity and success of the state, not without reference perhaps to the beauty of the city (Lam 2:15, the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth, Psa 50:2), and of the land, which is often celebrated (ch. Eze 20:6; Eze 20:15 the glory of all lands, cf. Dan 8:9; Dan 11:16; Dan 11:41; Zec 7:14); and partly also the glory of a higher kind conferred on her by Jehovah and his presence, in the sense of Deu 4:6-8.
my comeliness ] Or, my adornment; that given by me ( Eze 16:10-13); hardly in the sense of Isa 60:1, that Jerusalem’s beauty was only a reflection of the glory of Jehovah, who was in the midst of her.
These verses allegorically set forth the second period of Israel’s history: her redemption by Jehovah from Egypt, his covenant with her to be her God, his leading her into the promised land, and making her the paramount power there, and loading her with all the riches of that good land. Other prophets with more simplicity have celebrated this early time, “I remember of thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land not sown” (Jer 2:2); “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe on the fig tree at her first season” (Hos 9:10; cf. Deu 32:10).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Perfect … my comeliness – The comeliness was not natural, but the gift of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Thy renown; thy name was great and honoured.
Among the heathen; not only next neighbours, but the uttermost ends of the earth, as it is said of the queen of Sheba, heard thereof.
For thy beauty; the excellent order of thy government, prosperity of thy country, riches of thy merchants, and abundance of thy peace.
Perfect; the best of any upon earth, no nations had such laws as they had, or God so near them; it was perfect in its kind.
My comeliness which I had put upon thee; the form of the civil government and its laws, the wisdom, justice, and courage of the governors, the due compliance of the governed, and the holiness, purity, and truth of their religion; all which concurred to make up this beauty, and it was that God put upon them, or set before them, Deu 4:7,8. The visible, outward, emblematic part of all was beautiful; the invisible, inward, and spiritual part was much more beautiful, and ought to be duly considered. Thus far what God did for her.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. thy renown . . . among . . .heathenThe theocracy reached its highest point under Solomon,when distant potentates heard of his “fame” (1Ki10:1, &c.), for example, the queen of Sheba, Hiram, &c.(La 2:15).
my comelinessIt wasnot thine own, but imparted by Me.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty,…. Which consisted of the above things: with this compare De 6:4
Ps 48:2; the church’s beauty lies in the righteousness of Christ imputed, to her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned unto her; in the blood of Christ being upon her, by which she is washed and cleansed, justified and pardoned; and in the graces of the Spirit of Christ implanted in her; and in the salvation of Christ she is interested in; and in the presence of Christ, which is the beauty of the Lord upon her; and in being in Gospel order, and having Gospel ordinances; see Ps 45:11;
for it [was] perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee,
saith the Lord God; all the outward happiness and prosperity of the Israelites in the days of David and Solomon, or at other times, was not, as Kimchi observes, of themselves, but of the Lord: and so the comeliness of the saints and people of God is not of themselves; they are by nature black and deformed; they are defiled with original and actual sin; they are as an unclean, thing; they are corrupt, abominable, and loathsome; and as they have not their comeliness by nature, so not by art; as it is not native to them, it is not acquired by them; they do not obtain it by their humiliation, repentance, and services; these cannot remove their natural blackness and uncomeliness, or wash away their sins, and render them beautiful in the sight of God, Jer 13:23 Jer 2:22; but they have their comeliness from another, from Christ, who is altogether lovely; and from his righteousness, which is put on them; and so they are in him, and, through that, perfectly comely, a perfection of beauty, all fair, and without spot, even the fairest in the whole creation, complete in Christ, and perfect in him,
Ps 50:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet still continues to recite those blessings of God by which he had bound the people to himself. As to his saying, that its name had gone forth, it cannot be restricted to a short period; but it embraces a continued series of God’s favors until the people reached the highest point of happiness; and this happened under David. There is no doubt that God here means that he was so continually liberal towards the people that their fame became celebrated, for the name of the Israelites were spread far and wide; and God deservedly recounts their nobility or celebrity of fame among his benefits: hence he adds, on account of the beauty or elegance which I have placed upon thee, says he; because you was perfect through the ornament which I had placed upon thee. Here, therefore, God signifies that the people had not earned their fame by their own virtue, nor were they noble through their own native excellence, so to speak; but rather by ornament bestowed upon them. You, therefore, was of great name among the nations, said he. But wherein was that nobility and excellence? Certainly from my gifts. For nothing was accomplished by thyself so to arrive at a name and dignity more than royal. Through that ornament thy fame was spread abroad among the nations. But this enlargement must be noticed, since the people had not only experienced God’s goodness in that corner of Judea, but, when they ought to be content with their lot, were held in admiration and repute among foreigners. Now follows the reproof —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
14. It was perfect through my comeliness All the beauty of Israel which gave her renown among the nations came from Jehovah (Deu 4:6-8; Psa 50:2; Isa 60:1). Her deliverance from Egypt, her conquest of Palestine, her power and wealth under the early kings, and her gorgeous temple with all its splendor of sacrifice, making her “the glory of all lands” (Eze 20:6); all this “comeliness” or “adornment” was from Jehovah. (Compare Deu 32:10; Jer 2:2; Hos 10:10.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ “And your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty, for it was perfect through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord Yahweh.’
Their covenant with Yahweh, and His faithfulness to it, had given them renown among the nations, and God had bestowed on them His majesty. In their particular area they had reached the pinnacle, admired by all. All the world came to hear the wisdom of Solomon (1Ki 10:23-24). And they owed it all to Yahweh. But pride always comes before a fall because man is basically sinful. And that is just as true today as it ever was.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 16:14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it [was] perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Ver. 14. And thy renown went forth. ] Pliny saith of Jerusalem that it was the most famous of all the cities of the East; of the world he might have said, all things considered.
Through the comeliness which I had put upon thee.
a Canon 12.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
heathen = nations.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy renown: Deu 4:6-8, Deu 4:32-38, Jos 2:9-11, Jos 9:6-9, 1Ki 10:1-13, 1Ki 10:24, 2Ch 2:11, 2Ch 2:12, 2Ch 9:23, Lam 2:15
through: 1Co 4:7
Reciprocal: Num 16:2 – famous Pro 30:9 – I be full Son 1:5 – comely Son 4:1 – my Son 6:4 – beautiful Eze 5:5 – I have Eze 16:13 – and thou wast Eze 28:17 – heart Eze 31:9 – made
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 16:14. The terms and descriptions running through the chapter will be those directly applicable to a wife, yet the language will occasionally become so literal that we will know the prophet is considering the kingdom of Judah in her relations with God, This verse deals with such a thought when it says renown among the heathen. It is true that the kingdom which had Jerusalem for its capital became renowned in many parts of the earth. (See 1Ki 4:21; 1Ki 10:1; 1Ki 10:6-7,)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
16:14 And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty: for it [was] perfect through my {i} comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
(i) He declares where the dignity of Jerusalem stood: that is, in that the Lord gave them of his beauty and excellency.