Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:9
Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
9. Purifications before marriage. Whether “blood” be used somewhat generally to indicate the uncleanness of her infancy still cleaving to her, or in a more specific sense, may be uncertain ( Eze 16:7). Rth 3:3; Est 2:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The usual purifications for marriage.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Then, Heb. And: this continueth the allegory, and declareth what more was done to prepare this virgin for advancement by this marriage covenant.
Washed I thee: it was a very ancient custom among those Eastern people, as appears Rth 3:3; Es 2 12, to purify virgins who were to be espoused ere long; and it is likely the prophet alludes to that, Exo 19:10.
I throughly washed away: the same thing, by a very usual figure, repeated to confirm and illustrate what is spoken; the word in Hebrew notes an abundant washing, a rinsing of what was washed to make it cleaner; it includes a bathing, as Lev 15:10.
Thy blood; thy original and birth pollution, which rendered thee displeasing to the eye, and unfit for the familiar and loving entertainment of a husband.
I anointed thee; not to royal sovereign dignity, this is expressed by another word in the Hebrew; but anointed as they that were to be married, as Rth 3:3; Est 2:12; or as those who were to come into the presence of great and noble personages, as Dan 10:3; or as such who would look with cheerfuller countenances, and change their sad and mournful deportment, as 2Sa 12:20; it is not improbable it may allude to the bounty of God toward the Jews in a land flowing with oil. Spiritually these refer to our cleansing by the blood of Christ, and by his sanctifying Spirit.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. washed I theeas bridesused to pass through a preparatory purification (Es2:12). So Israel, before the giving of the law at Sinai (Ex19:14); “Moses sanctified the people, and they washed theirclothes.” So believers (1Co6:11).
oilemblem of theLevitical priesthood, the type of Messiah (Ps45:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then washed I thee with water,…. Brought the Israelites out of the mean, abject, servile, and sordid state in which they were, when among the mortar, bricks, and pots, into a state of liberty; so the Targum,
“and I redeemed you from the servitude of the Egyptians; and I removed the strength of dominion from you, and brought you into liberty;”
perhaps some reference may be had to the ceremonial ablutions enjoined them; they were washed before the covenant was made with them at Mount Sinai, just referred to; their priests, sacrifices, vessels, and all unclean persons, were to be washed, and purifications were prescribed them:
yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee: as with an inundation overflowing; so the word p signifies; very fitly is this mentioned, since in Eze 16:6; they are said to be “polluted in their blood”, and now washed from it: all men are defiled with sin, originally, naturally, internally, and universally; nor can they cleanse themselves by anything they can do, God only can; and this he promises to do; and this he does, not with water baptism, which does not take away sin, original or actual; nor with the washing of regeneration, or by regenerating grace; though that is sometimes compared to water; which, among other things, is of a cleansing nature; and of which men are born again, and by it sanctified; and which is done by the Spirit, who is a spirit of judgment and burning, by whom the faith of the daughter of Zion is washed away; and because this is done by the word and ordinances as means, hence these are called waters; see Eze 36:25; yet hereby men are not “thoroughly” washed; though a clean heart is created in them, a new man is formed in righteousness and true holiness; yet the filthiness of the old man remains, which appears in thoughts, words, and actions; but the thorough washing is by the blood of Christ; that is the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness; with this men are washed by Christ from their sins; this has a purgative and cleansing nature; and it cleanses from all sin, and justifies from everyone; so that hereby a man thoroughly washed is clear of all sin, none to be found or seen in him; he is without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; and has solid peace in his soul; his heart being sprinkled with this blood from an evil conscience, and, being purged, has no more conscience of sin; so that this is expressive of the fulness of justifying and pardoning grace:
and I anointed thee with oil; alluding to the anointing oil, with which the priests, tabernacle, and vessels, were anointed; or to the land of Canaan, a land of oil olive, into which the Israelites were brought; or to the custom of washing and anointing women before marriage; see Ru 3:3; and to the use of oil in baths, which was frequent: this may spiritually design the grace of the Spirit, which, like the oil on Aaron’s head, is exceeding “precious”, as are faith, hope, and love; and, like the “pure” oil for the candlestick, productive of purity of heart, lip, and life; of a delightful smell, as are the church’s ointments she has from Christ, So 1:3; and very cheering and refreshing, and therefore called oil of gladness, Ps 45:7; and ornamental and beautifying, as all grace is; and oil will not mix with another liquor, as grace will not with sin and corruption, and is of an abiding nature: now it is God that anoints with this; this oil comes from the God of all grace; is fro, in Christ the Holy One, and out of his fulness; from him the head it descends to all his members, and is applied by the blessed Spirit; see 2Co 1:21.
p “ut inundans eluerem sanguinem tuum”, Junius Tremellius, Polanus “inundavi sanguines tuos”, Montanus; “affundendo ablui”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here God more clearly explains what had been formerly touched upon, namely, that he then married the people, as a young man marries his bride. But he here states that he endowed her; for they would not have been sufficiently adopted by God unless they had been adorned with superior presents; since if they had been left in that miserable slavery by which they were oppressed, God’s favor would have been very obscure. Now, therefore, God means, that by his law he had entered into a new covenant with his people, so that he did not leave them naked and bare, but clothed with remarkable gifts. First of all, he says, I washed thee with water. Although he had just said that the people were like a beautiful damsel, and had praised their beauty, yet the filth of which the prophet had spoken yet remained: it ought, therefore, to be cleansed from those stains: I have cleansed thee with water, says he, and washed off thy bloods, namely, the corrupt blood which the damsel whom Ezekiel mentions had retained from her birth. Lastly, Ezekiel says that God performed those offices which the nurse discharges for the child. Afterwards he adds —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9-14) These verses describe the purifications and preparations for marriage to one of high rank (comp. Est. 2:9; Est. 2:12). The reality corresponding to the figure is, of course, the Divine care over Israel at Sinai, in the wilderness, and in the conquest of Canaan.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9, 10. Then washed I thee I clothed thee also This young maiden in her Egyptian bondage is “naked and bare,” groaning in her affliction, bruised, and beaten with many stripes, even unto blood (Exo 5:14; Exo 5:21) when Jehovah takes her to himself as bride. The expression used here may also be intended to carry the impression that the first time she had ever been washed was during the purifications preparatory to the wedding. (See Lev 15:19; Lev 15:24.)
Broidered work, badgers’ skin Rather, variegated work [so Eze 16:13; Eze 16:18; Exo 26:36 ] seal skin [Exo 25:5 ] byssus (Exo 28:39; Exo 39:27). It is not absolutely certain whether the byssus was of linen or cotton.
I covered thee with silk Silk when first adopted in Europe was of such value that the Emperor Aurelian denied his wife a silk shawl because a pound of silk cost a pound weight of gold. The early fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Chrysostom, etc., have much to say against the extravagance of the women in their congregations who wore silk. Whether this word which is only used again in Eze 16:13 means silk in the modern sense or not, it evidently means the costliest dress possible at that time.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Then I washed you with water, yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered work and shod you with sealskin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and covered you with silk. I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands and a chain on your neck, and I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.”
Yahweh had then washed her from all her past imperfections and anointed her with oil, both to beautify her and to demonstrate that she was His. Anointing with oil always ritually represented the dedication of something to Yahweh.
Then He clothed her with the finest clothes and decked her with jewellery and ornaments (compare Gen 24:53; Psa 45:13-15; Isa 61:10). Embroidered work was very expensive, sealskin (dugong skin) was of the finest quality. Fine linen and silk were for the wealthy. The ornaments were such as any woman of a distinguished family would wear (compare Isa 3:21). Finally He placed a royal crown on her head. The foundling had become a queen. The growth of Israel to such an exalted position may well refer to her exaltation under David, when she was queen of the nations round about, and possibly to the earlier days of Solomon in all his splendour. And what had happened to Israel had also happened to Jerusalem (Psa 48:2; Psa 50:2). But we must not limit it to historical allusions. She had become a queen in God’s eyes.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 16:9. Then washed I thee with water, &c. “I added every thing which had the least tendency to contribute to thy beauty and ornament.” The anointing with oil was reckoned a necessary ingredient in a festival dress. See Rth 3:3. 2Sa 14:2. This and the following verses allude to those parts of the woman’s attire, which not only serve for use, but are used for elegance or luxury; and import, that God did not only provide the Jews with necessaries, but also with superfluities or abundance. Instead of badger’s skins, Houbigant reads, purple sandals.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 16:9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
Ver. 9. Then washed I thee with water. ] I cleansed thee from all thy pollutions by the merit and Spirit of my dear Son. See 1Co 6:11 .
And I anointed thee with oil.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
washed: Eze 16:4, Eze 36:25, Psa 51:7, Isa 4:4, Joh 13:8-10, 1Co 6:11, 1Co 10:2, Heb 9:10-14, 1Jo 5:8, Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6
blood: Heb. bloods, Eze 16:6
anointed: Psa 23:5, 2Co 1:21, 1Jo 2:20, 1Jo 2:27
Reciprocal: Luk 15:22 – the best Eph 5:26 – with 1Ti 2:9 – not Heb 10:22 – our bodies
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 16:9. In spite of the advancement that nature had made for this neglected girl, she had not become completely rid of the undesirable conditions that had been imposed upon her at the time of and after her birth. But after the man became so intimately interested in her, he gave her further attention to prepare her for the life with him as his lifes companion in the marriage relation.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
16:9 Then I washed thee with {f} water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I {g} anointed thee with oil.
(f) I washed away your sins.
(g) I sanctified you with my Holy Spirit.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord also prepared her for a special relationship with Himself. He cleansed and anointed her and clothed her with beautiful, expensive clothing including fine shoes. He also gave her jewelry to make her even more beautiful with bracelets, a necklace, a ring, earrings, and a crown (cf. Gen 24:53; Psa 45:13-15; Isa 61:10). These were Jerusalem’s glory days under Solomon’s rule (cf. 1Ki 10:4-5).