Definition: Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 16:8. It's a really fascinating and somewhat dramatic passage about God’s relationship with Israel. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Story: God is looking back at a situation where he was passing by a specific group of people – the Israelites – and he noticed they were behaving in a way that seemed…unloving. He felt a sense of sadness and perhaps even a little discomfort. Then, he takes a very significant step – he covers them with his skirt and enters into a formal agreement with them. Let's unpack the key parts: “Now when I passed by thee…” : This is God’s perspective – he was observing something happening to those people. “…and looked upon thee…” : He was noticing their behavior, perhaps feeling a sense of unease or sadness about what they were doing. “Behold, thy time [was] the time of love…” : This is the crucial part. God is saying that his time – his presence and influence – was marked by a period of loving and caring towards them. It’s like he was feeling a strong, positive emotion toward them. “I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness…” : This is a very poetic image. He’s essentially enveloping them in a protective layer, signifying that he wanted to shield them from something negative or harmful. It's a symbol of protection and care. “Yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD…” : This is where it gets really significant. God makes a formal promise – an agreement – with these people. He’s saying, "I am making a commitment to you." He declares that he will be their protector and guide. “And thou becamest mine.” : This is the most striking part. God says they are becoming his. This isn't just a casual statement; it implies a transformation, a merging of power and identity. Overall Meaning - A Shift in Perspective: The verse suggests that God was initially concerned about the Israelites’ behavior and felt a sense of sadness. However, through this act of covering them and establishing a covenant, he chooses to actively protect and guide them. It's a powerful image of divine intervention and a shift from being merely observing to actively participating in their well-being. Important Context (Briefly): This verse is found within the larger narrative of the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Ezekiel. It’s often interpreted as a moment where God felt a deep responsibility towards his people and initiated a new relationship with them. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Compare this verse to another Bible passage? Discuss what the meaning of "becoming mine" might signify?