Definition: [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 16:48. It’s a really important and sobering message about judgment. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling us that God is judging a city called Sodom – a place mentioned in the Old Testament as being incredibly wicked and corrupt. He’s saying that even though God is alive and watching, he’s condemning Sodom because of what they've done. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “As” : This word indicates a comparison or an action happening in the past . It’s not just stating a fact; it’s saying something happened before. "I live, saith the Lord GOD..." : God is directly telling us that He, God Himself, is watching and judging. It's a powerful statement of His authority. "...Sodom hath not done, she nor her daughters..." : This is the core of the message. It means: “Sodom has not committed any serious wrong or wickedness.” She and her daughters have not done anything terrible. What does this mean in a nutshell? God is saying that Sodom has been incredibly immoral and sinful, and they’ve continued to practice those sins. He's condemning them because of their behavior. Important Context - The Story of Sodom & Gomorrah: The story of Sodom and Gomorrah comes from the Old Testament (Genesis chapters 19-20). It describes a city that was incredibly wicked – they built idols, practiced homosexuality, and were generally filled with sin. God sent an angel to punish them. The city was destroyed, and its inhabitants were exiled. Why is this important? This verse is a warning about the consequences of sin and wickedness. It reminds us that: God’s judgment can be swift: He doesn't tolerate evil. We are accountable for our actions: Our choices have consequences, even if we don’t always understand them fully. It’s a call to righteousness: The verse encourages us to strive to live righteously and avoid sin. In short, Ezekiel 16:48 is a powerful statement about God's justice and the consequences of wickedness. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you some examples of what “wickedness” might look like? Talk about the significance of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah?