King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 16:19 Mean?

Ezekiel 16:19 in the King James Version says “My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD. a sweet: Heb. a savour of rest”

Ezekiel 16:19 · KJV

Context

17

Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, of men: Heb. of a male

18

And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.

19

My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD. a sweet: Heb. a savour of rest

20

Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, to be: Heb. to devour

21

That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?

Read Ezekiel 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey—The threefold provision (solet סֹלֶת, finest flour; shemen שֶׁמֶן, oil; debash דְּבַשׁ, honey) recalls the Promised Land's abundance (Deuteronomy 32:13-14). God supplied covenant blessings, yet thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour (רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ, reach nichoach)—the technical term for sacrifices pleasing to YHWH (Leviticus 1:9).

The horror: Israel offered God's provision to Baal and Asherah as reach nichoach, deliberately using covenant language for idolatrous worship. This parallels the Corinthian error of eating idol-meat (1 Corinthians 10:18-21)—you cannot drink the Lord's cup and demons' cup. Thus it was, saith the Lord GOD—divine testimony confirms Jerusalem's judicial guilt.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The grain, oil, and honey offerings to Baal and fertility goddesses were documented in Hosea 2:8 and condemned throughout the prophets. Excavations at Canaanite high places reveal burnt offering remains of agricultural products mixed with incense, confirming these syncretistic practices permeated Judean worship.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways might modern believers use God's material blessings to serve idols (consumerism, status, pleasure)?
  2. How does Paul's teaching on food offered to idols apply to using God's gifts in morally compromised situations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וְלַחְמִי֩1 of 16

“My meat”

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

אֲשֶׁר2 of 16
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

וּנְתַתִּ֧יהוּ3 of 16

“also which I gave”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָ֜ךְ4 of 16
H0
סֹ֣לֶת5 of 16

“thee fine flour”

H5560

flour (as chipped off)

וָשֶׁ֤מֶן6 of 16

“and oil”

H8081

grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness

וּדְבַשׁ֙7 of 16

“and honey”

H1706

honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup

הֶֽאֱכַלְתִּ֔יךְ8 of 16

“wherewith I fed”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וּנְתַתִּ֧יהוּ9 of 16

“also which I gave”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לִפְנֵיהֶ֛ם10 of 16

“it before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

לְרֵ֥יחַ11 of 16

“savour”

H7381

odor (as if blown)

נִיחֹ֖חַ12 of 16

“them for a sweet”

H5207

properly, restful, i.e., pleasant; abstractly, delight

וַיֶּ֑הִי13 of 16
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

נְאֻ֖ם14 of 16

“and thus it was saith”

H5002

an oracle

אֲדֹנָ֥י15 of 16

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִֽה׃16 of 16

“GOD”

H3069

god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 16:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 16:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 16:13Deuteronomy 32:14-17Genesis 8:21Hosea 2:8-13

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