Definition: Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It's a really powerful and important passage, and it speaks about forgiveness and judgment. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: This verse is saying that Israel (and specifically, the Jewish people) has done way more bad things than they have acknowledged or apologized for. It's highlighting a significant imbalance of wrongdoing. Let’s break it down word by word: “Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins…” – This is referring to a group called Samaria. Samaria was a city in Israel, and the Bible describes them as having done terrible things. "Committed" means to do something intentionally. “…but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.” – This is where it gets really serious. “abominations” - This is a big word! It means things that are deeply wrong and against God’s will. Think of things like: lying, cheating, violence, stealing, sexual abuse… anything that goes against God's moral code. “multiplied” – This means they did much more of these things than the Samaria did. It’s a huge difference in the scale of their wrongdoing. “justified” - This is crucial. "Justified" means to excuse or explain something as right, when it wasn't actually right. In this case, they are saying that they are excusing themselves for their actions by saying they’re doing more bad things than the Samaria. Putting it all together – The overall message: This verse is a warning from God about how deeply Israel has fallen short of His standards. It says that despite acknowledging wrongdoing, Israel continues to do more harm than the people of Samaria did, and they are even excusing themselves for their actions. It’s a strong statement of judgment and a call for repentance. What does it mean in a broader sense? It's often interpreted as a reminder that everyone is responsible for their choices and needs to work towards forgiveness and righting wrongs. It’s about acknowledging our mistakes and striving to be better people. Important Note: This verse is part of a larger story of Israel’s history and struggles with sin. It's a reminder of the need for constant effort in seeking God’s grace and reconciliation. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Provide more context about the history behind it? Talk about what it means in relation to modern-day issues (like forgiveness or accountability)?