Ezekiel 16:4

2 “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominations

3 and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

On the day of your birth your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.

5 No one cared enough for you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. Instead, you were thrown out into the open field, because you were despised on the day of your birth.

6 Then I passed by and saw you wallowing in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, ‘Live!’ There I said to you, ‘Live!’

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
On the day of your birth your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.
KJV
And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
WEB
As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut. You weren’t washed in water to cleanse you. You weren’t salted at all, nor wrapped in blankets at all.
ASV
And 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.
DARBY
And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water for cleansing; thou wast not rubbed with salt at all, nor swaddled at all.
BLB
And of your birth, on the day you were born, your cord was not cut, and you were not washed in water for cleansing, and you were not rubbed with salt, and you were not wrapped in swaddling cloths.
ÅB
Og med din fødsel gikk det slik til: Den dag du ble født, ble din navlestreng ikke avskåret, og du ble ikke vasket ren med vann og ikke inngnidd med salt og ikke svøpt i svøp.
OTB
Den dagen du ble født, ble ikke din navlestreng kuttet, og du ble ikke vasket med vann for å rense deg; du ble ikke gnidd med salt eller svøpt i tøy.
B1930
Og med din fødsel gikk det således til: Den dag du blev født, blev din navlestreng ikke avskåret, og du blev ikke tvettet ren med vann og ikke inngnidd med salt og ikke svøpt i svøp.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Hosea 2:3

    Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 5:16–21

    No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 15:13

    Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 24:2

    And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 15:15

    Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

    Read in context
  • Acts 7:6–7

    God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 2:23–24

    After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.

    Read in context
  • Luke 2:7

    And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    Read in context