Ezekiel 16:51
Neither hath Samaria committed halfe of thy sinnes, but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more then they, and hast iustified thy sisters in all thine abominations, which thou hast done. Ezekiel 16:51 (KJV)
This verse belongs to a larger passage in Ezekiel in which the prophet delivers God’s message to Jerusalem, employing the metaphor of an unfaithful wife to portray the city’s spiritual adultery and idolatry. The historical setting is the period when Israel was divided into two kingdoms: the northern kingdom with Samaria as its capital and the southern kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. In this context the passage highlights Jerusalem’s wickedness amid the nation’s overall apostasy.
Symbolically, Jerusalem is depicted as a wife who has forsaken her covenant with God and pursued alliances with pagan nations and their gods, a vivid picture of spiritual prostitution that underscores the depth of her idolatry and unfaithfulness.
While the broader chapter repeatedly stresses that Jerusalem’s guilt exceeds that of Samaria, verse 51 itself concentrates on divine judgment rather than a direct side‑by‑side comparison. The surrounding text, however, makes clear that Samaria’s sins are presented as a lesser benchmark, thereby emphasizing that Jerusalem has multiplied her abominations and, by contrast, makes her “sisters” appear righteous.
Throughout the larger passage God pronounces severe judgments against Jerusalem for her persistent unfaithfulness. The announced judgments include destruction, desolation, and exile as the inevitable result of her continual idolatry and refusal to repent.
The purpose of this passage, including verse 51, is to confront the people of Jerusalem with the gravity of their sins, urging repentance and a return to God before the foretold consequences are realized. In summary, Ezekiel 16:51 serves as a stark reminder of Jerusalem’s greater guilt, her multiplied abominations, and the impending divine judgment that awaits the city for its spiritual unfaithfulness.
