Ezekiel 16 · Verse 12

Ezekiel 16:12

And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

Ezekiel 16:12, King James Version

Ezekiel 16:12 in other translations

BSB	I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.
WEB	I put a ring on your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
ASV	And I put a ring upon thy nose, and ear-rings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.
YLT	And I give a ring for thy nose, And rings for thine ears, And a crown of beauty on thy head.
DARBY	and I put a ring on thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.
BBE	And I put a ring in your nose and ear-rings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
Webster	And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and ear-rings in thy ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.

What does Ezekiel 16:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. jewel on thy forehead--rather, "a ring in thy nose" (Is 3:21). a crown--at once the badge of a bride, and of her being made a queen, as being consort of the King; the very name Israel meaning "a prince of God." So they are called "a kingdom of priests" (Ex 19:6; compare Re 1:6). Though the external blessings bestowed on Israel were great, yet not these, but the internal and spiritual, form the main reference in the kingly marriage to which Israel was advanced.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 I put a jewel on thy forehead - על אפך al appech, upon thy nose. This is one of the most common ornaments among ladies in the east. European translators, not knowing what to make of a ring in the nose, have rendered it, a jewel on thy forehead or mouth, (though they have sometimes a piece of gold or jewel fastened to the center of their forehead.) I have already spoken of this Asiatic custom, so often referred to in the sacred writings: see Gen 24:22, Gen 24:42; Exo 32:2; Job 42:11; Pro 11:22; Isa 3:21; Hos 2:13.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 16:1-58

A parable showing the first low estate of the Jewish nation, its prosperity, idolatries, and punishment. Verses 1-58 In this chapter God's dealings with the Jewish nation, and their conduct towards him, are described, and their punishment through the surrounding nations, even those they most trusted in. This is done under the parable of an exposed infant rescued from death, educated, espoused, and richly provided…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 16:1-58 →

Ezekiel 16:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וָאֶתֵּ֥ןva.'e.Tenand I putH5414

נֶ֙זֶם֙ne.zema ringH5141

עַל\־'al-onH5921

אַפֵּ֔ךְ'a.Pekhnose yourH639

וַעֲגִילִ֖יםva.'a.gi.Limand earringsH5694

עַל\־'al-onH5921

אָזְנָ֑יִךְ'a.ze.Na.yikhears yourH241

וַעֲטֶ֥רֶתva.'a.Te.retand a crown ofH5850

תִּפְאֶ֖רֶתtif.'E.retbeautyH8597

בְּרֹאשֵֽׁךְ\׃be.ro.Shekhon head yourH7218

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 16:12

Isaiah 3:21
The rings, and nose jewels,
Isaiah 28:5
In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Context

Ezekiel 16:11
I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Ezekiel 16:12
And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Ezekiel 16:13
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

Read all of Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y puse joyas sobre tus narices, y zarcillos en tus orejas, y diadema de hermosura en tu cabeza.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et je mis un anneau à ton nez et des pendants à tes oreilles, et une couronne de beauté sur ta tête.
German Elberfelder 1871	und legte einen Reif in deine Nase und Ringe in deine Ohren, und setzte eine Prachtkrone auf dein Haupt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	et dedi inaurem super os tuum, et circulos auribus tuis, et coronam decoris in capite tuo.