Eze 16:4-6 | JFB | STEP | 4. Israel's helplessness in her first struggling into national existence, under the image of an infant ( ) cast forth without receiving the commonest acts of parental regard. Its very life was a miracle ( ). navel . . . not cut —Without proper attention to the navel cord, the infant just born is liable to die. neither . . . washed in water to supple thee —that is, to make the skin soft. Rather, "for purification"; from an Arabic root [MAURER ]. GESENIUS translates as the Margin, "that thou mightest (be presented to thy parents to) be looked upon," as is customary on the birth of a child. salted —Anciently they rubbed infants with salt to make the skin firm.

Ezekiel 16:4-6

4. Israel's helplessness in her first struggling into national existence, under the image of an infant (Ho 2:3) cast forth without receiving the commonest acts of parental regard. Its very life was a miracle (Ex 1:15-22).

navel . . . not cut—Without proper attention to the navel cord, the infant just born is liable to die.

neither . . . washed in water to supple thee—that is, to make the skin soft. Rather, "for purification"; from an Arabic root [MAURER]. GESENIUS translates as the Margin, "that thou mightest (be presented to thy parents to) be looked upon," as is customary on the birth of a child.

salted—Anciently they rubbed infants with salt to make the skin firm.

5. cast . . . in . . . open field—The exposure of infants was common in ancient times.

to the loathing of thy person—referring to the unsightly aspect of the exposed infant. FAIRBAIRN translates, "With contempt (or disdainful indifference) of thy life."

6. when I passed by—as if a traveller.

polluted in . . . blood—but PISCATOR, "ready to be trodden on."

I said—In contrast to Israel's helplessness stands God's omnipotent word of grace which bids the outcast little one "live."

in thy blood—Though thou wast foul with blood, I said, "Live" [GROTIUS]. "Live in thy blood," that is, Live, but live a life exposed to many deaths, as was the case in the beginnings of Israel's national existence, in order to magnify the grace of God [CALVIN]. The former view is preferable. Spiritually, till the sinner is made sensible of his abject helplessness, he will not appreciate the provisions of God's grace.