Ezekiel 16:49

Ezekiel 16:49

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 

a. NLT: Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: “ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, overabundance of food, prosperous ease, and idleness were hers and her daughters’; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation] 

d. Septuagint: Moreover this was the sin of thy sister Sodom, pride: she and her daughters lived in pleasure, in fullness of bread [and] in abundance: this belonged to her and her daughters, and they helped not the hand of the poor and needy.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Behold, this was the sin of Sodom, your sister: She and her daughters had pride, surfeit of bread and peaceful serenity, but she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

 

1.”Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride…”

a. Behold [Strong: 2009 hinneh hin-nay' prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.]

b. this [Strong: 2088 zeh zeh a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, X thus, very, which.]

c. was [Strong: 1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

d. [the] iniquity [5771 * ‘avon] [Strong: perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.] [Gesenius: depravity, depraved action, sin, crime.]

e. [of thy] sister [269 * ‘achowth] [Strong:  irregular feminine of 251; a sister (used very widely (like 250), literally and figuratively):--(an-)other, sister, together.]

f. Sodom [5467 * Cdom] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea:-- Sodom.]

g. pride [1347 *  ga’own] [Strong: arrogancy, excellency(-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling.] [According to Blue Letter Bible the Hebrew word is used 49 times in the Old Testament and 20 times it is translated “pride”.]

1). The first sin listed in this scripture is “pride”. Now pride itself is sin, but Sodom’s pride was IN their sin. Sodom was proud of their sin. In Isaiah there is a very revealing verse that shows us how Sodom was proud of their sin. 

a). Isaiah 3:9 (KJV) “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not…” 

b). The New International Version translates Isaiah 3:9 a little differently.

c). Isaiah 3:9 (NIV) The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.  

2). The use of the word “declare/parade” is accurate but also very intriguing. The Hebrew meaning of the word “declare” is nagad. It means “to stand boldly out against, to manifest, to announce (by word of mouth), to proclaim, to celebrate with praise”. Remember that the context is sin so the various definitions fit right in with the NIV use of the word “parade”. “To boldly stand out (in their sin), to announce (their sin) by word of mouth, to proclaim (their sin), to celebrate (their sin) with praise”, are all very revealing.

3). Anyone who has witnessed a Gay Pride Parade has seen these definitions literally come alive before their eyes. In these parades the homosexual is celebrating the pride he or she has in their homosexuality. In their ignorance, the homosexual movement’s use of the word “pride” indicts them as a prophetic link to ancient Sodom in Ezekiel 16:49. “This was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride,…”  Their behavior at these parades, according to Isaiah 3:9, also is a prophetic link to ancient Sodom, “…they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not…”

4). The first homosexual “pride” parade was held in 1970 in New York City celebrating the 1969 Stonewall riot, when homosexuals rioted for three days in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a homosexual hangout. Twenty nine years later in 1999, Interpride: The International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered Pride Coordinators listed 108 homosexual celebrations in 108 U.S. cities and 15 others in Canada. A group across the Atlantic, The European Pride Organizers Association listed 53 homosexual celebrations in 19 different European countries, for a total of 176 homosexual “pride” celebrations worldwide. In 2004, I found at least 310 homosexual “pride” celebrations. This increase is  not only amazing but obviously a fulfillment of the prophetic word spoken by Jesus in Luke 17:28, 30: “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot…even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

5). Over the last 40 years homosexual sympathizers and apostate Christianity the world over has been teaching that homosexuality was not a factor in God’s decision to destroy Sodom, that other sins were the cause for such a reaction from heaven. To bolster this false theory, advocates for homosexuality and apostate preachers say that of all the references to Sodom in the Bible, only the passage in Genesis 19 specifically mentions any form of homosexuality. All the other passages they say, point to other sins. Ezekiel 16:49, 50 is one of those passages, [Conservative and honest scholarship does teach the “abomination” of Ezekiel 16:50 does point to homosexuality. See notes on Ezekiel 16:50]. I have found that although Ezekiel 16:49, 50 and the other passages do mention ‘other’ sins that Sodom was guilty of; these ‘other’ sins found in the other passages are also characteristics of the contemporary homosexual movement. In their effort to do away with the Scriptures that condemn homosexuality, these apostate preachers have inadvertently strengthened the indictment that God condemns homosexual behavior in every time period. When I studied these ‘other’ sins of Sodom I saw that the homosexuality of 21st century America is no different than that of 20th century B.C. Sodom or of 7th century B.C. Israel or of 1st century A.D. Corinth. This is one of the most intriguing parts of the study. In Scripture, whenever there is a statement of a culture being compared to Sodom we know that that particular characteristic was also in Sodom. Examples are found in Isaiah 3:9; Jeremiah 23:14 and 2 Peter 2:6-8. In each of those passages homosexuality is not mentioned but other offences are, and those offences are also characteristics of the modern homosexual culture and those who support it. In their effort to shift the sins of Sodom away from homosexuality, these apostate preachers have recklessly pointed us toward a previously hidden but now revealed glimpse of the homosexual movement in ancient Sodom, which in may ways is no different than 21st century America.

2. “…fullness of bread…”

a. fullness [Strong: 7653 sibʻâh, sib-aw'; feminine of H7647; satiety:—fulness. * sib’ah] The KJV translates Strong's H7653 in the following manner: fulness (1x).]

b. [of] bread [3899 * lechem] [Strong: food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.

1). The Bible describes the area of Sodom and Gomorrah as a very agriculturally prosperous area.

a). Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

2). Jesus described it as a very busy economic area, up until the very day they were destroyed.

a). Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

3). Moses mentioned the areas grape production in a metaphorical reference.

a). Deuteronomy 32:32, 33 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

4). The Dead Sea formed as a result of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Before the Dead Sea was formed, the area was called the vale of Siddim, and during that time, the whole plain of Jordan “was well watered everywhere,” in fact Genesis 13:10 compares the area to “the garden of the LORD”, presumably the Garden of Eden. There are no descriptions in the Scripture that I know of that mention the area, pre-destruction, as having a sea or lake there. Looking at the little bit of information that we have, I speculate that the Jordan River flowed south through the whole “plain of Jordan”, with tributaries branching off southwest and southeast and at its southern most end was the “vale of Siddim” a very well watered area. I personally believe that the Dead Sea formed as a result of the judgment/destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, i.e., it was not there previously. The only description is a valley with many slimepits.

3. “…and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters…”

a. abundance [Strong: 7962  shalvâh, shal-vaw'; from H7951; security (genuine or false):—abundance, peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness. shalvah] [The KJV translates Strong's H7962 in the following manner: prosperity (3x), peaceably (2x), quietness (1x), abundance (1x), peace (1x).]

b. [of] idleness [8252 * shaqat] [Strong: a primitive root; to repose (usually figurative):--appease, idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet(-ness), (be at, be in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still.]

1). Commentary Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown: abundance of idleness--literally, "the secure carelessness of ease" or idleness.

c. was [in her] [Strong: 1961  hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

d. [and in her] daughters [1323 * bath] [Strong: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively):--apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, X first, X old, + owl, town, village.]

1). This refers to the four towns or communities that were just like her in sexual perversity. Many do not know that four towns were destroyed in the destruction of Genesis 19.

a). Deuteronomy 29:23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass growth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD  overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: 

4. “…neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

a. neither [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

b. [did she] strengthen [Strong: 2388 châzaq, khaw-zak' a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.]

c. [the] hand [3027 * yad] [Strong: a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad, (broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship, force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in, labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine, ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain, power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing, + thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side, where, + wide, X with (him, me, you), work, + yield, X yourselves.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3027 in the following manner: hand (1,359x), by (44x), consecrate (with H4390) (14x), him (14x), power (12x), them (11x), places (8x), tenons (6x), thee (6x), coast (6x), side (5x), miscellaneous (130x).]

c. [of the] poor [Strong: 6041ʻânîy, aw-nee';  depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically the same as 6035, although the margin constantly disputes this, making 6035 subjective and 6041 objective):--afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6041 in the following manner: poor (58x), afflicted (15x), lowly (1x), man (1x), variant (3x).]

d. [and] needy [Strong: 34 ʼebyôwn, eb-yone'; from H14, in the sense of want (especially in feeling); destitute:—beggar, needy, poor (man).] [ The KJV translates Strong's H34 in the following manner: needy (35x), poor (24x), beggar (1x), poor man (1x).]

1). It should be noted that oppressing “the poor and needy” is described as an “abomination in Ezekiel 18.

a). Ezekiel 18:10-13 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

18:11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

18:12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

18:13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

2). Though Sodom did not strengthen the hands of the poor and needy, she did strengthen the hands of evildoers.

a). Jeremiah 23:14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

b). Ezekiel 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

c). The modern homosexual movement lies to its allies while clinging to the myth/lie of homosexual orientation. Sodom and the cities of the plain also lied to strengthen the hands of evil doers just as the false prophets of Jerusalem did. Sodom, the false prophets of Jerusalem and the modern homosexual movement in one way or another lie to strengthen the hands of evil doers.