Definition: And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 16:6. It's a really powerful and somewhat unsettling passage about sin and judgment. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is essentially saying God sees something terrible happening – a person has committed a serious act of wickedness – and he’s deeply grieved by it. He doesn’t just see the act; he sees the person behind it. He acknowledges that this person has stained their blood with sin. Let's unpack it word-by-word: “Ezekiel 16:6” : This is the verse itself, coming from a specific book in the Bible – Ezekiel. “And when I passed by thee…” : This is a metaphorical description of God’s journey or observation. It's not about a literal physical encounter; it’s about God being aware of something happening. “…and saw thee polluted in thine own blood…” : This is the crucial part. "Polluted" means stained, corrupted, and marked with sin. “Thou” (you) refers to the person who has committed this wrongdoing. It's a strong statement – they’ve done something deeply wrong. “I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood…” : This is where it gets really significant. “When thou wast” means "in your time," or "at that moment." God is acknowledging a specific, past event – a moment when this person committed their sin. The words “when thou wast” are often translated as “in your time,” which reinforces the idea of a specific, historical action. “Live; yea, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood…” : This is the core of the verse – God offers a promise of forgiveness and salvation through this acknowledgement of the sin. It’s not just saying "live," it's saying "I offer you a chance to be forgiven." The repetition of “Live” emphasizes the importance of this moment. It’s like, “Don’t worry about your problems; I’m offering you a way out.” What does it mean? The verse is a message of judgment and mercy . It's a reminder that sin has consequences, and that God sees our actions and can hold us accountable. However, it also offers a path to restoration – forgiveness through the suffering of this person’s blood. Important Context: This passage appears in the Book of Ezekiel, which was written during a time of crisis for the Jewish people, facing a devastating famine and spiritual decline. It's a powerful warning about the dangers of sin and the need for repentance. --- In short, this verse is a profound statement about God’s awareness of sin and his willingness to offer forgiveness through the suffering of those who have fallen into it. Do you want me to: Explain another part of this passage? Give you some examples of how this verse relates to other stories in the Bible?